Mrs HICKEY - 1995-11-23
Increasing problems for our prison system have resulted from the CLP government's new directions against our prison officers. In view of the minister's answer to a question from the member for Fannie Bay and his statement that the safety and wellbeing of prisoners and workers is paramount, can he advise whether the following are all part of his new approach to correctional services in the Territory: refusing to allow prisoners to shower for 24 hours because of a broken pipe, despite easy access being available to alternative facilities; placing 18 prisoners in a small ex-mechanical trade shed in Darwin Prison with restricted access to recreation facilities; providing sleeping arrangements which mean that the prisoner in the top bunk has to be careful not to stretch too much in case the overhead fan lops off his hands; and locking a woman on remand in Alice Springs in a cell for 20 hours a day for 4 months? Does the minister believe that this is better than the previous system or does he believe that this will result eventually in further industrial action and difficulties in our prison system?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, for the member's benefit, I point out that prisons are not hotels. The sooner she recognises that fact, the better. I repeat that the safety of the community is paramount. If it comes to a choice between letting a prisoner run loose in the streets or their being locked in a cell, they will be locked in a cell. If prison officers refuse to man a cell block and that means the prisoners go without showers, so be it. They will not be lodged in a public facility, but will remain in the cells because the security of the community is paramount. The rest of the member's carry-on bears no relevance to the facts. If she wants to toady to the union, that is fine. That is part of the role of Labor members because the Labor Party is the political wing of the union movement. We understand that, but I ask her to remember that the community's safety is paramount and prisons are not hotels. If you mob gain power and want to set up hotels for prisoners, that is fine. It will not be happening while I am the minister.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, for the member's benefit, I point out that prisons are not hotels. The sooner she recognises that fact, the better. I repeat that the safety of the community is paramount. If it comes to a choice between letting a prisoner run loose in the streets or their being locked in a cell, they will be locked in a cell. If prison officers refuse to man a cell block and that means the prisoners go without showers, so be it. They will not be lodged in a public facility, but will remain in the cells because the security of the community is paramount. The rest of the member's carry-on bears no relevance to the facts. If she wants to toady to the union, that is fine. That is part of the role of Labor members because the Labor Party is the political wing of the union movement. We understand that, but I ask her to remember that the community's safety is paramount and prisons are not hotels. If you mob gain power and want to set up hotels for prisoners, that is fine. It will not be happening while I am the minister.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016