Ms WALKER - 2011-10-20
Can you please update the House on how the government’s new era of Corrections is helping tackle alcohol abuse and stop the revolving door of offending?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The Henderson Labor government’s major reform in Corrections, a new era in Corrections, is squarely focused on addressing offending behaviour - not only addressing offending behaviour, but making the offender aware of offending behaviour - and that relates to treatment.
It is well known in this House that 60% of all assaults are alcohol-related, so when we talk about offending behaviour, there is a massive sector of the Territory community that needs help. That is why the new era in Corrections has two main planks of address. One is in powers and one is in facilities. For instance, with our two new orders where the juridical system will order people into treatment, and when we are talking about 60% of all assaults in the Territory being alcohol-related, we are talking about treatment for alcohol abuse.
We are addressing this issue within the new era. The courts have new orders, and those new orders will be directly looking at alcohol treatment, supported by electronic surveillance in some cases.
Regarding facilities, the Treasurer outlined to the House the new public private partnership that will deliver a new Correctional Services precinct. Within that Correctional Services precinct will be the Doug Owston Correctional Centre. Other elements of that precinct are important to note. That relates to supported accommodation and treatment centres, and that will relate to getting remandees into treatment. It will be built beside the new Correctional Services facility, and it will also be duplicated in Alice Springs - so at both ends of the Territory.
The new era in Corrections also provides funding support for an important part of development, and that is the growth of our non-government sector. This is important for involving the community, and growing capacity within the community, to deal with this unacceptable revolving door of offenders.
The statistics are: five treatment beds to be built and funded in Alice Springs; funding for an additional 15 beds in Katherine; and five beds built and funded in Darwin. Already, partnerships have been developed and established with Kalano Venndale Rehabilitation and the Withdrawal Centre in Katherine, and CAAPU in Alice Springs.
Government is serious about addressing alcohol-related crime and the new era in Corrections is about breaking that cycle of offending. I am proud to say that our government’s support includes not only major reform and policy, but also significant resources.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. The Henderson Labor government’s major reform in Corrections, a new era in Corrections, is squarely focused on addressing offending behaviour - not only addressing offending behaviour, but making the offender aware of offending behaviour - and that relates to treatment.
It is well known in this House that 60% of all assaults are alcohol-related, so when we talk about offending behaviour, there is a massive sector of the Territory community that needs help. That is why the new era in Corrections has two main planks of address. One is in powers and one is in facilities. For instance, with our two new orders where the juridical system will order people into treatment, and when we are talking about 60% of all assaults in the Territory being alcohol-related, we are talking about treatment for alcohol abuse.
We are addressing this issue within the new era. The courts have new orders, and those new orders will be directly looking at alcohol treatment, supported by electronic surveillance in some cases.
Regarding facilities, the Treasurer outlined to the House the new public private partnership that will deliver a new Correctional Services precinct. Within that Correctional Services precinct will be the Doug Owston Correctional Centre. Other elements of that precinct are important to note. That relates to supported accommodation and treatment centres, and that will relate to getting remandees into treatment. It will be built beside the new Correctional Services facility, and it will also be duplicated in Alice Springs - so at both ends of the Territory.
The new era in Corrections also provides funding support for an important part of development, and that is the growth of our non-government sector. This is important for involving the community, and growing capacity within the community, to deal with this unacceptable revolving door of offenders.
The statistics are: five treatment beds to be built and funded in Alice Springs; funding for an additional 15 beds in Katherine; and five beds built and funded in Darwin. Already, partnerships have been developed and established with Kalano Venndale Rehabilitation and the Withdrawal Centre in Katherine, and CAAPU in Alice Springs.
Government is serious about addressing alcohol-related crime and the new era in Corrections is about breaking that cycle of offending. I am proud to say that our government’s support includes not only major reform and policy, but also significant resources.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016