Page 1423 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 6 April 2011
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MS GALLAGHER: I do not think anywhere it talks about the free flow of drugs. I think that is a position that the opposition is putting forward. I do not think that is what either report actually says, if you read them. I am not sure the opposition leader has actually read the report, based on his question yesterday and his questions today. That is not what they say. Both reports say that there needs to be a range of strategies in place to reduce the incidence of drugs getting into the jail but where drugs are in the jail there are harm minimisation approaches put in place.
So there are three things you do—there is demand reduction, supply reduction and harm minimisation. They are the areas highlighted in Burnet and to some extent in Hamburger, where we need to look at some of our processes, particularly in relation to harm minimisation and some of the extra services that Burnet has recommended we increase, such as extra counselling services, mental health services and things like that, where we are supporting prisoners with their addiction.
I think it is important to put in context the profile of the population we are dealing with. If the opposition leader, again, has read the report he will understand the complexity of the people who are in the Alexander Maconochie Centre. Ninety-one per cent of those who participated in the consultation with Burnet reported having a lifetime use of illicit drugs, whether that is cannabis, which is the preferred one, or heroin. I think over two-thirds had some addiction to heroin prior to coming to jail. Also, around 75 per cent of them believe that drugs impacted either at the time of their offence or on the reason for their incarceration. This is the group we are trying to support here.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Minister, how do you reconcile your answer with the findings of the Burnet report that says that the evaluation demonstrates that the supply reduction activities conducted at the AMC are not halting the supply of drugs into the AMC—the flow of drugs, minister?
MS GALLAGHER: No, the words of the opposition leader were “the free flow of drugs into the prison”. They are the words that he has used repeatedly in speaking to your motion this morning. I think Burnet actually recommends a range of improvements to supply reduction, demand reduction and harm minimisation. The government are determined to address those areas where we agree with Burnet—to work on the implementation of the recommendations of Hamburger, to make what is a very good facility a better one.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hanson?
MR HANSON: Attorney-General or Minister for Health, do you accept responsibility for the lack of consultation and transparency in policy making at the AMC?
MR CORBELL: In relation to the administration of the AMC—
Opposition members interjecting—
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