Page 85 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2010
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MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.56): Well, it is interesting that the opposition are prepared to have carte blanche to criticise the government when it comes to issues around the administration of corrections in the territory but are not prepared to allow the government to respond appropriately. This very simple request is that the tabling statement and the government response be authorised for publication. Mrs Dunne stood up in this place and said: “We haven’t seen what the tabling statement is going to say. Therefore, we can’t agree to it being authorised for publication.”
Mrs Dunne: If there’s nothing in it, we can authorise it after you have made the—
Mr ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, the Attorney-General heard you in silence.
MR CORBELL: The opposition have not seen the government response either but they are quite happy to authorise that for publication. Their position is inconsistent and illogical. The simple fact is that the government has a tabling statement and the response, and that is before members now. I am seeking authorisation for that. It is quite clear what is in that, and I reject any assertion that I am going to make any defamatory comments whatsoever. I certainly am not.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be divided.
Question resolved in the negative.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: The question now is that the motion be agreed to.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR CORBELL: I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
When the Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety announced its inquiry into prison delays in January 2009, it was at a time when there was considerable media and public scrutiny of the new prison and why it was still not operational. The government welcomed the inquiry at that time. We saw it as an opportunity to clear the air, and we gave the committee our full cooperation.
The construction of a prison in the ACT was a brave decision for this government, and we did not go in half-heartedly. We looked to build a facility which would cater for the ACT needs into the future and which would set high and human rights compliant standards for prison and prisoner management within Australia. This government determined that the ACT prison would be built and operated in accordance with human rights principles and best correctional practice. It would systematically pursue the rehabilitation of our sentenced prisoners and substantial reductions in reoffending. It would do this through comprehensive therapeutic, criminogenic and educational programs and sound, humane prisoner management. I was proud to have been a party to such a cutting edge policy, and I remain proud of
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