Page 1571 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 31 March 2009

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MR SPEAKER: The question was both a broad one of whether the prison was operating and specifically about 2.6.

MR HARGREAVES: Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I appreciate that. You cannot take, as these people opposite would like to, any of the clauses of the contract in isolation from the others. It is a total system; it is a package. The absence of a brick wall around the outside could have a very big difference to the robustness of the security system and whether or not it is working. We saw a call for an independent evaluator of 2.6.

MR SPEAKER: Stop the clocks.

Mr Hanson: Mr Speaker, my question was not to the robustness of the security system. My question was specifically about defect 2.6. The question is: has it been rectified? It is a simple yes or no specifically about defect 2.6.

MR SPEAKER: I believe your question, Mr Hanson, was actually: is the prison operational and is 2.6 rectified?

Mr Hanson: No, it was not. I can read my question again.

MR SPEAKER: Please do.

Mr Hanson: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Corrections. The Alexander Maconochie Centre has finally received its first batch of prisoners. Can you confirm whether there are remaining defects in the alarm system, specifically defect 2.6?

MR HARGREAVES: On the point of order: I was regarding it as being in addition to the 2.6.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, can you specifically address 2.6.

MR HARGREAVES: Indeed, he is talking about the alarm systems and 2.6 actually refers to that. We talk about the robustness. For example, are we talking about the alarm systems? Are we talking about the hierarchy of it? Both of them are contained in clause 2.6. That is what I am trying to answer for the member opposite.

My information is that the defects as outlined in clause 2.6 have been addressed and have been certified by our independent auditor, Webb Australia, that we can accept the prison. I have given the undertaking in here before. I am not going to allow anybody to go into that prison if the security system is not right.

Mr Speaker, through you: Mr Hanson, you do not get to answer the question as well. I am sorry about that. It does not work that way. If you want to answer the question, get up and give us the answer and then I will tell you the question. How is that? I do not want to debate it with him across the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, a supplementary question?


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