Mr MALEY - 2002-02-27
Yesterday, a memo from the Commissioner for Corrections, Mr Moore, to the Chief Executive Officer of your department, was tabled in this parliament. Why does that memo refer only to the transfer on 9 November and no other transfer, when no date was mentioned during the course of yesterday’s Question Time? What was so particular about the transfer on 9 November that he limited his comments to that date and only that date? And further, was the flight on 9 November originally scheduled for that time and date, or was that flight delayed for any reason and, if so, what was that reason?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I cannot confirm why Commissioner Moore focussed on the flight of 9 November. What I can say is that Commissioner Moore has advised me that the decision to transfer prisoners to Alice Springs Correctional Services is an operational decision for him alone to take. In accordance with protocols developed under the former government, the minister of the day is notified of the Commissioner’s decision as there is inevitably intense interest in the matter. Commissioner Moore yesterday confirmed that:
… at no time during briefings I had with the then Minister for Correctional Services, Mr John Ah Kit, nor his ministerial staff,
was I directed to change any arrangements I had made regarding prisoner transfers from Darwin Correctional Centre to
Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
He also advised it is, and to use his word, ‘crazy’ to suggest any direction or request relating to transfers could be given to prison officers without his knowledge - an allegation that the shadow Attorney-General was quite happy to make on the air earlier on. He has advised that headquarters in Darwin, with his direct approval, makes the physical arrangements for transfers and his Assistant Commissioner, based in Darwin headquarters, approves the transfer list. He says:
This is a predominantly uniform service that relies on a hierarchy of command and associated accountabilities at each level
in custodial operations.
The Commissioner, at least, is very clear about the integrity of the process that he is following within his department.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I cannot confirm why Commissioner Moore focussed on the flight of 9 November. What I can say is that Commissioner Moore has advised me that the decision to transfer prisoners to Alice Springs Correctional Services is an operational decision for him alone to take. In accordance with protocols developed under the former government, the minister of the day is notified of the Commissioner’s decision as there is inevitably intense interest in the matter. Commissioner Moore yesterday confirmed that:
… at no time during briefings I had with the then Minister for Correctional Services, Mr John Ah Kit, nor his ministerial staff,
was I directed to change any arrangements I had made regarding prisoner transfers from Darwin Correctional Centre to
Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
He also advised it is, and to use his word, ‘crazy’ to suggest any direction or request relating to transfers could be given to prison officers without his knowledge - an allegation that the shadow Attorney-General was quite happy to make on the air earlier on. He has advised that headquarters in Darwin, with his direct approval, makes the physical arrangements for transfers and his Assistant Commissioner, based in Darwin headquarters, approves the transfer list. He says:
This is a predominantly uniform service that relies on a hierarchy of command and associated accountabilities at each level
in custodial operations.
The Commissioner, at least, is very clear about the integrity of the process that he is following within his department.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016