Page 357 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
about particular issues, or constructive suggestions for action and change. The work achieved so far sets a strong foundation for ongoing systems improvement, especially around the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Recommendations made in the Moss review are directed to a number of government directorates and statutory office holders, including the ACT Health Services Commissioner, ACT Policing, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the ACT Ombudsman. The review also refers to the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service and encourages their increased participation to deliver culturally safe health services to detainees.
To provide assurance to the community on the progress of the government’s response, strong governance arrangements were put in place to oversee and report to me on the implementation of the Moss review. This work is being progressed by an interdirectorate project team and overseen by a high-level steering committee. I appointed an independent chair, Mr Russell Taylor AM, to lead this work and report directly to me on its progress.
Other members of the steering committee include the directors-general of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate, ACT Health and the Community Services Directorate, along with key community representatives from the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to ensure that the interests of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community are being met.
The formation of the steering committee has helped ensure that the recommendations are being fully implemented in the spirit of the review and in response to community expectations. It has also provided a forum for key representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to meet regularly with high-level government officials to discuss issues their community faces. I thank each of the community members for their full participation in this process, which has helped strengthen our response.
Effective independent oversight is important to build and maintain public confidence in the ACT’s corrections system. Following the Moss review, and due to the unique make-up of the ACT’s correctional system and growing population pressures, I determined that a new model of oversight was required. In response, the ACT government allocated $1.661 million over four years to establish an external and independent Inspectorate of Custodial Services to strengthen and improve oversight arrangements. On 30 November 2017 the ACT Legislative Assembly passed the Inspector of Correctional Services Act 2017. This legislation establishes an independent inspector tasked with conducting biennial reviews of ACT adult corrections facilities and, within two years, youth justice centres.
The inspector will provide a high level of transparency and accountability through reports to the Legislative Assembly. The inspector must make these reports public, unless there are public interest grounds against disclosure. The inspector will also examine and review critical incidents. Critical incidents are defined to include circumstances where a person’s life has been endangered, there is an escape, a hostage
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video