Page 2327 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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MR RATTENBURY: On 15 May 2014 the Attorney-General tabled the Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner’s Human rights audit on the conditions of detention of women at the Alexander Maconochie Centre. The audit report was the product of extensive work during 2013 by the commissioner and her team. This work was facilitated through the significant cooperation of ACT Corrective Services staff, as well as staff from ACT Health and the Community Services Directorate. There was also notable engagement in the audit from community agencies who work with female offenders.
The work undertaken by the commissioner and the cooperation provided by government agencies are testament that this jurisdiction and this government have a commitment to service delivery consistent with human rights principles. It confirms that we believe very strongly in delivering effective and appropriate services in our corrections system and that we welcome that service delivery being scrutinised with a view to continuous improvement. I am happy today to table the government’s response to the commissioner’s report.
The report is a substantial document. It has in excess of 200 pages and contains 61 recommendations. A considered read of the report reveals that the picture for women detainees at the AMC is positive. The commissioner found that overall women detainees are treated well in custody. She found that corrections staff and management are respectful of the particular needs and vulnerabilities of women in custody. The commissioner is satisfied that the AMC is compliant with human rights standards in a range of areas, including induction, nutrition, clothing, bedding, personal hygiene and discipline.
The commissioner found that there has been significant improvement in the treatment of women detainees in the ACT since the last Human Rights Commission report into corrections back in 2007. In particular, the commissioner noted that the former reliance by ACT Corrective Services on strip searching of women detainees has improved, and she has put the view that the ACT is now leading best practice in this area compared to other jurisdictions.
This is not to say there are not challenges. The commissioner found that it is difficult to provide a comprehensive suite of services and programs to a small number of women detainees, all with diverse individual needs. She also identified problems in regard to responding to ongoing mental health concerns and the need for more activities for women detainees, including possibly some form of prison industry. These are areas where I also support enhanced efforts by Corrective Services and ACT Health.
Of the report’s 61 recommendations, the government supports 35 and supports in principle nine recommendations. Ten have been noted and there are seven which are not supported.
Among the supported recommendations are quite a few that relate to reviewing or updating AMC policies as they impact upon women. The government and ACT Corrective Services agree that there are AMC policies and procedures which need update or review. A number of the key ones identified by the Human Rights Commission,
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