Page 2040 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2017
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I would like clarity on the 23 per cent, or the 22.6 per cent, being used to claim early results. Is it reflective of an overall rate or is it simply relating to those who have chosen to go on the through-care program? According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the percentage of prisoners previously imprisoned since 2013 is as follows: 2013, 73 per cent; 2014, 76 per cent; 2015, 75 per cent; and 2016, 74 per cent. Those are the ABS stats in Prisoners in Australia for those following years. These figures do not appear to indicate serious headway yet in reducing reoffending. The recidivism numbers are too high. I would like to know how we will actually get a change in this disproportionately high rate of recidivism in the ACT.
Since taking up the corrections portfolio I have raised a number of concerns about the operation of the AMC, our prison, and whether the facility is achieving what the government set out to achieve. I have highlighted concerns with the availability of new industries to all inmates. Giving prisoners the opportunity to engage in job training and develop new skills will hopefully help them to not just find work but to keep work once they are back in the community.
Like the minister, I have high expectations of our facility. I am seeking to ensure that offenders are given every opportunity to pay their dues, begin the process of rehabilitation and re-enter the community prepared for the difficult circumstances that they will be confronted with. I recognise, as I think the minister does, the difficulties faced by former detainees. I can only imagine how difficult it must be post release to re-enter the community, find employment, build new networks and perhaps avoid old networks in a small city like Canberra.
I acknowledge efforts being made regarding issues such as reoffending. Due to the lack of clarity now on this 22.6 per cent reduction figure, which has been stated, and given that it seems our facility still has an extremely high population of re-offenders, I would like clarity on the following matters: what impact the extended through-care program has had on reducing the rate of recidivism and crime when the ABS data suggests otherwise; what the government is doing to address the 74 per cent recidivism rate and by when the government is aiming to achieve it; what, if anything, is being done to assist the 26 per cent of those who did not participate in the program and who, I assume, had far worse recidivism rates; what programs are underway in the AMC to address the rate of re-imprisonment; outside the extended through-care program, what government or non-government organisations have been engaged to facilitate former inmates re-entering the community; what funding is provided to these organisations and for what services they are being funded.
I note that the minister has circulated an amendment which seeks to omit (1)(a).
Mr Rattenbury: Yes, I have had to revise it; sorry.
MRS JONES: That is okay. I have a revised version here compared to what I was shown by the minister earlier.
Mr Rattenbury: I am happy to give you leave to speak again if you want to have a look at it.
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