Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 August 2024, 15:53
Corrections focus to improve community safety
Correctional facilities will be upgraded and enhanced across the state to improve rehabilitation opportunities and reduce reoffending, in a boost for community safety.
Following a long consultation period, the Government will not proceed with the previously planned new Northern Correctional Facility and will instead prioritise the modernisation of existing facilities, expanding rehabilitation and reintegration programs, and updating operational systems to better serve the community.
This strategic decision is supported by a 5 per cent decrease in the prisoner population from its peak.
Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the Government is committed to community safety and prudent and effective use of taxpayer funds, as Tasmanians expect.
“The Government will instead prioritise upgrading and enhancing Tasmania’s existing correctional system and invest in rehabilitation opportunities and reducing reoffending rates, ultimately contributing to greater community safety.
“We have seen the positive impacts of the programs and strategies in place in reducing reoffending and keeping Tasmanians safe. These include our technologically-advanced Home Detention Orders and Electronic Monitoring program.
“By harnessing state-of-the-art monitoring technology, this program significantly enhances the safety of the community by allowing precise, real-time tracking of offenders through ankle-monitoring devices. This ensures that those on home detention are closely monitored, reducing the risk of reoffending and providing an extra layer of protection to the public.
“Additional electronic monitoring devices will expand this service, offering courts more sophisticated and flexible sentencing options.
“To further modernise the correctional system, the Government will also invest in advanced in-cell technology, including the introduction of video calling capabilities. This initiative will allow prisoners to maintain regular contact with their families, particularly those from different regions, through secure and reliable communication channels, and better engage with lawyers and the justice process.
“By enabling stronger family connections through video calls, this technology will support the rehabilitation process, reduce recidivism, and assist in the reintegration of offenders into society.”
The Government will also upgrade and repurpose an existing facility into a residential alcohol and drug treatment centre, which a non-government organisation will operate.
Funding will be provided to employ additional staff to offer more opportunities for training, education, and activities across correctional sites.
Minister Ogilvie said the Tasmanian Government remains committed to ensuring there is a strong pipeline of work in northern Tasmania that creates and sustains employment and boosts the local economy – particularly in the Meander Valley region.
“The Government will now explore future construction opportunities on the existing Ashley Youth Detention Centre site following its planned closure, including minimum-security facilities, the relocation of the Launceston Reception Prison, as well as an option for an additional residence for women which will assist in the reintegration of women back into their local communities.
“We expect to consult broadly with respect to any future investments in relation to the AYDC site.
“We will continue to work with the private sector to unlock large-scale construction projects across northern Tasmania, including the Meander Valley region, to promote economic development and job creation, complementing public infrastructure projects that are underway, such as the $580 million redevelopment at the Launceston General Hospital and a new $80 million Mental Health Precinct.”
Media release – Rebekah Pentland MP, Miriam Beswick MP, 30 August 2024
NORTHERN INDIES SAY ESLAKE REPORT IS STARTING TO SINK IN
Northern independents Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick believe the State Government’s decision to not go ahead with a new northern prison is the first sign of Saul Eslake’s budget warnings being heeded.
“Saul Eslake’s report made it clear that Tasmania’s infrastructure spending isn’t sustainable or affordable,” Mrs Pentland said.
“While a lot of time and money has unfortunately already been spent pursuing a northern prison, we support the decision to put the project on ice.
“This is the first sign that Saul Eslake’s warnings of a budget emergency are being listened to.
“We hope the State Government takes further steps to bring the budget back under control.”
Braddon independent MP Miriam Beswick welcomes the Government’s commitment to invest more into therapeutic programs and support.
“I applaud the Government’s decision to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration,” Mrs Beswick said.
“The announcement of an additional residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility is also welcomed.
“There is currently no youth focussed rehabilitation centre in Tasmania, and although a youth focus is not mentioned, there is a crucial opportunity here.”
Media release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Corrections, 31 August 2024
Guilty as charged: Liberals break prison promise amid budget disaster
The Liberals have been promising the residents of Meander Valley a new northern prison for six years.
They said it would create nearly 400 ongoing jobs for the region and provide a $300 million economic boost.
Late on Friday afternoon they broke that promise, for one simple reason: they’ve wrecked the budget and can’t afford it.
Their broken promise on the northern prison is just the latest in a growing list of Liberal cuts that have come to light in recent months – from jobs in our hospitals, jobs in our police forces and upgrades to the Royal Hobart Hospital’s Emergency Department.
What other infrastructure promises are the Liberals planning to break in next month’s budget? Will they break their promise on the new Tamar Bridge too?
Over the past six years the Liberals have pursued three failed sites. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted and a huge amount of angst has been caused in the Meander Valley community.
A budget disaster, massive cuts, job losses and nothing getting done: it’s Jeremy Rockliff’s Minority Liberal Government in a nutshell.
Media release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Corrections and Children Spokesperson, 31 August 2024
Northern prison plan axing welcome, but Ashley delays concerning
Comments attributable to Cecily Rosol MP, Greens spokesperson for Corrections and Children
The Greens welcome the Liberals’ decision to axe the northern prison plan – something we’ve been fighting for years. Another jail was never the answer to a corrections system at breaking point.
The Liberals’ tough on crime policies are the cause of overcrowding at Risdon Prison, which was their rationale for opening a northern prison.
Instead of locking more people up and building more jails, we should be diverting them from the prison and trying to reduce recidivism. All the evidence says sending people into prisons only increases the likelihood of reoffending. Instead, we need a therapeutic approach to justice which supports people’s rehabilitation.
It’s extremely concerning to hear about further delays to the closure of Ashley Youth Detention Centre. The longer it takes to close, the greater the risk to young people.
We have genuine fears this announcement is the beginning of the Liberals using their terrible budget management as an excuse for inaction on closing Ashley. That is the worst possible outcome. The Commission of Inquiry was urgent and clear – to keep children safe, the government must close Ashley as soon as possible.
If the Liberals are truly committed to honouring the COI’s top recommendations, and the “prudent and effective use of public funds”, they’d abandon their plans to build an unneeded billion-dollar stadium and close Ashley now.
Comments attributable to Tabatha Badger MP, Member for Lyons
We’ve been fighting with communities in Westbury to Deloraine against the northern prison plan since it was announced. We celebrate the community’s hard work in standing for a better justice system and fighting for the Meander Valley.
The first community campaign to stop a prison being built at Brushy Creek Rivulet, with what would have been a huge loss of natural values and impacts on residents, was a massive, and ultimately successful effort. The second, and final campaign for the costly demolishing then rebuilding of the Ashley site has now also been won.
Media release – Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service, 2 September 2024
NORTHERN PRISON SCRAPPED
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service today welcomed the State Government decision to not build a northern prison.
TALS CEO Jake Smith said Minister for Corrections Minister Madeleine Ogilvie’s announcement not to build the northern prison and divert funding was significant.
“The decision to divert funding towards programs that will improve rehabilitation and reintegration opportunities is extremely important,” Mr Smith said.
“It’s great to see the Tasmanian Government is not going to build another prison and fill it as they have previously done.
“By investing in rehabilitation, reintegration and supporting those within the system, there will be greater opportunities for improved outcomes for those in prison and in the community.”
Mr Smith said TALS has been calling for greater investment in rehabilitation and reintegration for people in custody for some time.
“We are pleased to see this Government commitment, particularly a specific allocation of funding to Aboriginal prisoners.”
Mr Smith said TALS had received communication from the Department of Justice Acting-Secretary Kristy Bourne which highlighted funding will be diverted specifically for training and activities for Aboriginal prisoners.
“Greater supports are required for Aboriginal people in custody. The current level of funding falls well short in meeting the needs of the Aboriginal prison population.”
“Aboriginal people represent approximately 25% of the prison population at any one time, that is compared to approximately 5% of the Tasmanian population.
“The Tasmanian Government is a signatory under Closing the Gap and target 10 specifically calls out a 15% reduction of Aboriginal prisoners incarcerated by 2031.
“The productivity commissions dashboard of assessment of progress towards this target has Tasmania’s confidence level as low and going in the wrong direction.”
Media release – Justice Reform Initiative, 2 September 2024
No Northern prison is a sensible decision for all Tasmanians
The Tasmanian Government’s decision to drop a northern prison is a sensible one which should act as a beacon for all Australian governments.
Justice Reform Initiative executive director Dr Mindy Sotiri said the government had made the right call by recognising a new prison was not an effective use of taxpayer funds and instead investing in expanding reintegration programs and improving existing facilities.
“It is never too late to make a good decision, and we’re glad to see the Tasmanian government pull the pin on a Northern prison before it was too late,” she said.
“This is the right decision because it recognises prisons come at enormous financial and social cost to the community.
“We can’t think about building new prisons like hospitals, schools or other important infrastructure projects that contribute to the well-being of the whole community. All of the research shows that not only are prisons expensive to build and run, they cause harm, they entrench disadvantage, and they fail to deter or address the drivers of crime.
“The Northern Correctional Facility would have cost more than $270 million to build, but far more in operating costs and ongoing social costs by reinforcing the cycle of reincarceration.
“We call on other jurisdictions to take note of this decision and rethink their position on building new prisons.
“The evidence is overwhelmingly clear – the solutions to reducing crime are not found inside prison, but are in the community. It takes real investment and hard work at the grassroots level with individuals, families and communities to address the drivers of crime, and that is where governments should focus their efforts.”
The Justice Reform Initiative has recently published a series of discussion papers on key reform areas including bail, as well as reports outlining the success of evidence-based alternatives to prison.
