Page 1406 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2011
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The current facilities for physical activity at the AMC are inadequate or non-existent for most prisoners. I remember Simon Corbell, in a speech he gave to Christians for an Ethical Society, I think in 2008, saying how it would be so busy that prisoners were going to be kept active all the time. One of the quotes is that part of the problem is also that they are bored. “They are absolutely bored shitless” is the quote. And this is the jail that Simon Corbell said would be so busy that the prisoners would be so active, they would be so entertained, it was going to be like nirvana. It has been anything but. There is little evidence that has emerged regarding the effectiveness and suitability of other drug services and strategies at the AMC.
When you do a comparison with Corrective Services NSW, New South Wales offers a range of programs with varying levels of program intensity. And when it comes to therapeutic programs, the service offered by New South Wales is regarded by Burnet as certainly more comprehensive.
So on and on this report goes. As to prisoners with mental illness—and this might grab the attention of Ms Bresnan—this is a direct quote:
Prisoners with mental health conditions are not receiving adequate support.
Shame on you, Attorney-General. Shame on you also, health minister. So on and on the Burnet report goes.
But what we are seeing with Burnet is that Simon Corbell, essentially, has been hiding behind Katy Gallagher. He does not want to take any responsibility for this. Although many of the areas found in the Burnet report, many of the failings, are actually his responsibility, he has been hiding when it comes to the Burnet report.
The other reports that we have seen—and there are two others we have got—are Hamburger 1 and Hamburger 2. We have got the Hamburger report that was directed by the Assembly. I make the point here that Simon Corbell has been going out there, saying:, “We want to be open and accountable. We want people to know what is going on. That is why we commissioned this report.” That is not true.
I have looked at the Hansard of 10 February where the Liberals put a motion calling for an independent review, which was supported by the Greens. They put in a few amendments. We wanted an independent review. And guess who voted against that? I have looked at it. And I have looked at it again. Mr Corbell and Ms Gallagher both voted against a motion calling for an independent review. So when Simon Corbell says that this was because of the government wanting to be open and accountable, is that true? He voted against this very report being commissioned.
What this found—and I quote from the report—was:
… it has not delivered to the standards required by its ambitious vision and objectives.
I quote further:
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