Page 2055 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 4 June 2019
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Justice—parole conditions
MR HANSON: My question is to the minister for corrections. Minister, is it standard practice for parolees to not be allowed to leave the ACT as part of their parole conditions; if so, why?
MR RATTENBURY: That would be a matter for the independent Sentence Administration Board here in the ACT, who are the ones who determine the conditions that a detainee is given parole on. They make a range of decisions.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MR RATTENBURY: I am not exactly sure—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, the minister is on his feet.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: You are warned, Mr Hanson. I have really had enough.
MR RATTENBURY: As I was explaining, Mr Hanson, it is a matter for the Sentence Administration Board. It is my understanding that most people who are given parole are given some sort of condition about where they should reside. That might be in a different jurisdiction, but it would be a matter for the applicant to make a case to the Sentence Administration Board as to why it would be in a different jurisdiction.
Generally, in the ACT people who are given parole do reside here and they are given a series of conditions which involve reporting to ACT Corrective Services, amongst other things. That is part of the ongoing supervision process about seeing people through their parole period and making sure they are complying with their conditions as determined by the Sentence Administration Board.
MR HANSON: Minister, how does restricting parolees from leaving the ACT affect their ability to gain accommodation, work and a life beyond prison?
MR RATTENBURY: I think that Mr Hanson is well into the realm of hypothetical here. Each person that goes before the Sentence Administration Board makes the case as to, firstly, why they should be given parole and, secondly, the circumstances in which they should be given parole.
Clearly, the Sentence Administration Board has a keen interest in people on parole having a successful reintegration into the community. That may be about where they reside. It may be about their access to employment and the like. The intent very much is to make sure that people can get on with their lives but at the same time retain the
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