Page 188 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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again, in 2019, and it is a bit like Groundhog Day—yet again, the prison is overpopulated; another day, another issue with the prison. And so it goes on.
I call on the ACT government to become open and let us all know what they plan to do to solve this problem. What will they do if the population increases beyond 511? The electors of the ACT deserve some answers. I note, as I have a little bit of time remaining, that the minister has circulated an amendment. We will support the amendment, as it contains, practically speaking, everything that was asked for in the motion, within reason.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (4.46): I am today essentially supporting Mrs Jones’s motion. I have circulated an amendment, but it has only minor additional text. I am not seeking to delete any of her original text with this amendment. My amendment simply adds some further figures that, for those who may read this historically, provide useful information. I move my amendment:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes the detainee population of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) has reached a new high of 507 on 20 June 2018, 68 detainees over the design capacity of 439 and four detainees fewer than the operational capacity of 511;
(2) that, of the 539 actual beds, 511 are operational beds for detainee accommodation and 28 beds are used for special short-term use, crisis support or disciplinary requirements;
(3) that the current population of the AMC is 475;
(4) further notes that a feasibility study into future correctional requirements, including accommodation, was completed in early 2018; and
(5) calls on the ACT Government to release its findings of the feasibility study and explain to the Assembly how it will accommodate detainees should the population increase beyond 511.”.
As I said, my amendment provides additional information and clarifies that while the population of the AMC did reach 507 in the middle of last year, the population overall has declined since then, although it does continue to fluctuate. Those numbers have gone up and down, but the amendment indicates that the current population is 475. I am pleased about that in the sense that Mrs Jones has spoken about the pressures that population growth can bring. Certainly, 507 was obviously concerning. With the lower numbers there is a little more latitude there. But it certainly continues to be a situation that requires careful management by AMC staff.
Mrs Jones spoke about ancillary services. Areas like the Hume Health Centre do come under pressure with those numbers. That is one of the reasons why, at this time last year, in the midyear budget review, we provided supplemental funding to expand the Hume Health Centre. That work will be getting underway shortly.
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