Mrs HICKEY - 1996-05-16
The Country Liberal Party administration is now engaging in industrial warfare with another group of its employees. Prison officers have consistently warned the government that they have neither the staff nor the resources to handle the overcrowding caused at Darwin Prison resulting from the number of prisoners there exceeding the prison's capacity. They have also stated that the break-out of the murderers Heiss and Baker last year would not have happened if the government had properly resourced prison staff. Why is the minister contemptuous of working with the prison officers to overcome these problems, leaving them with no option but to take industrial action? Why is the Country Liberal Party administration so little concerned for the security of Darwin residents that it did not listen to prison officers' warnings and thus failed to prevent the escape of murderers? Will the escalating cost of the Alice Springs Prison further delay the supply of essential resources to prison officers?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, as is normal, the preamble of the Leader of the Opposition's question was incorrect. In fact, a debate was held in this Chamber that demonstrated quite clearly that it was not a lack of prison officer numbers that caused the break- out last year. It was clearly shown ...
Ms Martin: They broke out of your jail.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, it would be nice to be able to answer the question. I think the community at large appreciates being able to listen to answers. However, whenever the answers contradict the philosophies of the Labor Party, members opposite interrupt rudely to ensure that people listening to their radios are unable to hear what the minister is saying. The member for Fannie Bay is very competent at that, closely followed by the member for Wanguri. I believe the community at large would appreciate being allowed to listen to the answers given by ministers.
The preamble, alleging that the break-out last year was caused by a lack of prison officers, is factually incorrect. In fact, as has been pointed out very clearly, those particular prisoners made a key. Of course, they had considerable time available in which to do that. In particular, one of them had a little machine shop in his cell as a result of previous administration of the prison. That, of course ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, they do not like it when answers disagree with their theories. However, the facts are there and they cannot be gainsaid.
Ms Martin: Get a lawyer!
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Mr Bailey: The buck always stops somewhere else.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Isn't it interesting? They will do anything to prevent the community receiving factual information.
As I said, a small machine shop was in a prisoner's cell as a result of the active efforts of the previous head of the Correctional Services Unit.
The claim that the government is ignoring the plight of prison officers and refusing to discuss matters with the union is baseless. A number of meetings have been held by management and by the Commissioner for Public Employment with appropriate union officials. I have met with union representatives on a number of occasions. That process will continue. I have been advised that quite a satisfactory arrangement is almost complete for the operation and manning of Alice Springs Prison. It will be good to be able to announce the details of that arrangement in the near future.
Ms Martin: It does not help the Darwin situation, though.
Mr MANZIE: With regard to Darwin, there is an ongoing process of occasional industrial disruption by some officers at Darwin Prison. I think the latest ...
Ms Martin: Sixty yesterday.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Fannie Bay is extremely rude. She insists on interrupting. Let it be noted that the member for Fannie Bay lacks manners, and possibly we may see a change. She may be able to examine and think about her behaviour and consider the community listening.
Ms Martin: I think I will get a lawyer.
Mr MANZIE: You are living with one. Maybe you need to seek his advice.
Obviously, the process of industrial action will continue at Darwin Prison until such time as Alice Springs Prison is open and operating correctly. When that occurs, it will alleviate some of the overcrowding at the Darwin facility that we are all well aware of. In relation to the processes at Darwin Prison, I am disappointed to hear the union talking about failing to man the new open, low-security area. Obviously, if the union does not wish to be involved in ways and means of helping to alleviate the overcrowding, so be it. A similar situation was created when they refused to man the Gunn Point Prison Farm, and that hastened its closure. That was a little disappointing, but it was the way it went.
The claim that completion of Alice Springs Prison is being affected by a cost blow-out has no basis in fact. The changes and the extra facilities being built ...
Ms Martin: $30m.
Page 1360
Mr MANZIE: There she goes again! The member for Fannie Bay does not want to listen.
As I was saying, there is no cost blow-out.
Mr Bailey: Was it due to budget cash-flow projections and emerging priorities which may ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: There is no cost blow-out. Additional features being built at Alice Springs Prison bring the cost to around that $30m. The Department of Transport and Works advises that the building program processes are continuing. It sees no problem in relation to the handover in July, and I have had no advice to contradict it. That program is running steadily on course.
Obviously, the government's efforts in building that prison go a long way towards debunking the myth that the government has been sitting on its hands and doing nothing. In fact, we foresaw that we would need a new prison and we dealt with that situation very efficiently and effectively. However, that will not stop the harpings of members opposite. Thankfully, while those claims remain without any basis in fact, they will not disturb anybody.
Mr COULTER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I inform honourable members that the member for Nightcliff is absent today due to ill-health. Any questions relating to his portfolio responsibilities should be directed to the member for Leanyer.
Page 1361
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, as is normal, the preamble of the Leader of the Opposition's question was incorrect. In fact, a debate was held in this Chamber that demonstrated quite clearly that it was not a lack of prison officer numbers that caused the break- out last year. It was clearly shown ...
Ms Martin: They broke out of your jail.
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, it would be nice to be able to answer the question. I think the community at large appreciates being able to listen to answers. However, whenever the answers contradict the philosophies of the Labor Party, members opposite interrupt rudely to ensure that people listening to their radios are unable to hear what the minister is saying. The member for Fannie Bay is very competent at that, closely followed by the member for Wanguri. I believe the community at large would appreciate being allowed to listen to the answers given by ministers.
The preamble, alleging that the break-out last year was caused by a lack of prison officers, is factually incorrect. In fact, as has been pointed out very clearly, those particular prisoners made a key. Of course, they had considerable time available in which to do that. In particular, one of them had a little machine shop in his cell as a result of previous administration of the prison. That, of course ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Mr Speaker, they do not like it when answers disagree with their theories. However, the facts are there and they cannot be gainsaid.
Ms Martin: Get a lawyer!
Page 1359
Mr Bailey: The buck always stops somewhere else.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: Isn't it interesting? They will do anything to prevent the community receiving factual information.
As I said, a small machine shop was in a prisoner's cell as a result of the active efforts of the previous head of the Correctional Services Unit.
The claim that the government is ignoring the plight of prison officers and refusing to discuss matters with the union is baseless. A number of meetings have been held by management and by the Commissioner for Public Employment with appropriate union officials. I have met with union representatives on a number of occasions. That process will continue. I have been advised that quite a satisfactory arrangement is almost complete for the operation and manning of Alice Springs Prison. It will be good to be able to announce the details of that arrangement in the near future.
Ms Martin: It does not help the Darwin situation, though.
Mr MANZIE: With regard to Darwin, there is an ongoing process of occasional industrial disruption by some officers at Darwin Prison. I think the latest ...
Ms Martin: Sixty yesterday.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Fannie Bay is extremely rude. She insists on interrupting. Let it be noted that the member for Fannie Bay lacks manners, and possibly we may see a change. She may be able to examine and think about her behaviour and consider the community listening.
Ms Martin: I think I will get a lawyer.
Mr MANZIE: You are living with one. Maybe you need to seek his advice.
Obviously, the process of industrial action will continue at Darwin Prison until such time as Alice Springs Prison is open and operating correctly. When that occurs, it will alleviate some of the overcrowding at the Darwin facility that we are all well aware of. In relation to the processes at Darwin Prison, I am disappointed to hear the union talking about failing to man the new open, low-security area. Obviously, if the union does not wish to be involved in ways and means of helping to alleviate the overcrowding, so be it. A similar situation was created when they refused to man the Gunn Point Prison Farm, and that hastened its closure. That was a little disappointing, but it was the way it went.
The claim that completion of Alice Springs Prison is being affected by a cost blow-out has no basis in fact. The changes and the extra facilities being built ...
Ms Martin: $30m.
Page 1360
Mr MANZIE: There she goes again! The member for Fannie Bay does not want to listen.
As I was saying, there is no cost blow-out.
Mr Bailey: Was it due to budget cash-flow projections and emerging priorities which may ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr MANZIE: There is no cost blow-out. Additional features being built at Alice Springs Prison bring the cost to around that $30m. The Department of Transport and Works advises that the building program processes are continuing. It sees no problem in relation to the handover in July, and I have had no advice to contradict it. That program is running steadily on course.
Obviously, the government's efforts in building that prison go a long way towards debunking the myth that the government has been sitting on its hands and doing nothing. In fact, we foresaw that we would need a new prison and we dealt with that situation very efficiently and effectively. However, that will not stop the harpings of members opposite. Thankfully, while those claims remain without any basis in fact, they will not disturb anybody.
Mr COULTER (Leader of Government Business): Mr Speaker, I inform honourable members that the member for Nightcliff is absent today due to ill-health. Any questions relating to his portfolio responsibilities should be directed to the member for Leanyer.
Page 1361
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016