Page 2916 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015
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This part of the agency will increasingly become the focus of corrections in the coming years as we implement the anticipated outcomes of the government’s justice reform strategy. Community corrections will have a massive role to play in implementing the justice reform strategy, and after a number of years where the focus of the government, and, I might say, the broader political, media and community focus, has been on the AMC itself, it is timely and appropriate for us to invest in our community corrections service.
There will also be $4.932 million over four years to implement a new information management system for ACT Corrective Services. Corrections’ existing information management system, which also supports both detainee and community offender case management, is ageing and has limited capacity to meet the needs of a modern corrections function. In last year’s budget the government funded corrections to build a road map for its extensive information management needs and responsibilities.
During 2014-15 corrections reviewed and documented its business processes, conducted research into product solutions, surveyed other jurisdictions and identified what it would need to properly manage its information and offender management into the future. The funding provided by this bill will allow corrections to procure a software solution fit for purpose and roll it out in the coming years. Importantly, detainee management and reporting will be improved.
The 2015-16 budget will also support ACT Corrective Services through additional funding for increases in its workers compensation premium. This funding of $1.048 million is provided for 2015-16 only, pending the development of the revised workers compensation arrangements for the ACT public service.
As Minister for Justice, I have a keen interest in the other justice features of this bill that provide balance to the very necessary compliance elements that are such a part of the work of corrections. I welcome and support the funding to legal aid over two years and the funding to street law to provide people with greater access to legal representation. I welcome and support the more than $3 million for additional judicial resources so that court outcomes can be delivered more promptly.
I welcome and support the more than $2 million over four years for restorative justice processes for adult offenders, which will provide an alternative to imprisonment. This program can be used in conjunction with other sentencing action, and I note that this is phase 2 of the government’s restorative justice program.
I welcome the more than $1.5 million to form an administratively based victims of crime financial assistance scheme so that those most affected by crime in our community can be better supported. We constantly need to look at our justice system in its entirety and ensure that we are doing everything to achieve just outcomes. I believe that the budget delivers this in a balanced way and will go a long way to supporting good overall justice outcomes. Whilst I do have that primary responsibility for the corrections end of the spectrum, I think it is very important that we are working in other areas.
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