The Liberal Government’s decision to scrap the Reintegration of Ex-Offenders (REO) program has proven to be short-sighted and damaging.
Shadow Corrections Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said the Parole Board Annual Report confirms Jacquie Pertrusma has failed.
“Labor warned the Government and Minister Petrusma of the consequences of scrapping the REO program but they were too arrogant to listen,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“Now we’ve got a situation where even more people are waiting in prisons, costing taxpayers, beyond their release date.
“People are being left with nowhere to go because the Liberals have cut the support program that was working well.
“Jacquie Petrusma is putting even more pressure on our prison system after a year of crisis after crisis.
“Scrapping a crucial program without a replacement ready to go was appalling.
“The Minister needs to come out today and explain what she is doing to fix the mess she has created.”
Madeleine Ogilvie MP Shadow Minister for Corrections
