Page 2843 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 16 August 2017
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MR WALL (Brindabella) (5.48): There has been a bit of déjà vu—Mr Rattenbury and I sparring over the AMC. It is reminiscent of the Eighth Assembly. But the rhetoric from the minister has not changed: “These were unforeseen circumstances.” “We couldn’t have predicted this rise in population.” These comments sound identical to the discussions that we were having around capacity issues two, three and even four years ago, when the AMC was at capacity during the last few years, which ultimately led to the expansion. Back then, the minister was saying, “We couldn’t have foreseen the increase in prison populations. All jurisdictions around the country are experiencing an increase in the male population.” When that expansion work was done, why was there not a proper look, a proper examination, of both male and female prison population trends done, to ascertain what our future needs might be? Here we are, not even a year since the completion of the last expansion, and again we have capacity issues.
It might be timely to remind Mr Rattenbury of the ministerial code of conduct. Section 3 is headed “Ethical principles for Ministers”—and I know many on the opposite side do struggle with that sometimes. Paragraph e, “Accountability”, states:
Ministers are accountable for their own behaviour and the decisions and actions of their staff.
Mr Rattenbury has been the minister responsible for corrections since late 2012, after the 2012 election. In that almost five years there has been issue after issue after issue. Need I remind members that there have been capacity issues, there has been the drug issue, there have been escapes, there have been deaths and there have been assaults. This is not a well-run prison system. The minister continues to fail to be accountable and to take responsibility for the mismanagement and the failings that have plagued this prison. To give him some credit, some occurred before he got the responsibility for it, but many of these issues have plagued the AMC since Mr Rattenbury took responsibility for it.
The opposition will support his amendment, and we very keenly watch to see what options and solutions are put forward to address the continued overcrowding at the AMC, this time amongst the female population. I look forward to the next opportunity I get to relive the glory days of the Eighth Assembly.
Amendment agreed to.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Disability services—mobility permits
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (5.51): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes that:
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