Page 3348 - Week 09 - Thursday, 24 August 2017
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ACT government is the right approach. It has been advocated at a national level for about four decades now. The most recent comprehensive review of Australia’s tax system was undertaken by Dr Ken Henry earlier this decade and made a series of recommendations.
The ACT then commissioned its own tax review that made a series of further recommendations. We have implemented those recommendations. There was a five-yearly review of that particular reform process, released in last year’s budget, that has informed the next stage of tax reform.
Alexander Maconochie Centre—assaults
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Minister, I refer to a report in the Canberra Times today which reveals that the mother of two Aboriginal brothers who were severely bashed in the Alexander Maconochie Centre was not told of their hospitalisation until a day later. Minister, why did it take so long for this mother to be notified?
MR RATTENBURY: I can confirm to the Assembly that the report in today’s paper is accurate. It is normal procedure that the next of kin should be notified immediately. In this circumstance, they were not; they were notified the following day.
This is a failure to meet normal standards. I am bitterly disappointed by that because we have these standards in place, in particular in recognition of the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our corrections system, and being mindful of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which took place 25 years ago. These policies are shaped by that. In this circumstance, normal procedure was not followed. Staff have now been reminded of their responsibilities to ensure that these procedures are followed because of their importance.
Corrective Services takes these matters very seriously. Around two years ago, as a proactive measure, I had Corrective Services undertake an own-initiated review of our performance and compliance against recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. We take these things seriously. It has not worked on this occasion, but that does not undermine the fact that we are committed to doing the best possible job we can in this space.
MRS JONES: Minister, what have you done precisely to deal with this failure, this bitter disappointment of this mother and her two sons, and to address what might happen the next time such an event occurs?
MR RATTENBURY: As I indicated in my previous answer—which I trust Mrs Jones was listening to—staff have been reminded of their responsibilities. These are not optional guidelines; these are the rules we expect to be followed. These procedures are there for important and good reasons. The executive director of corrective services will continue to follow up on that as part of staff training.
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