Page 4379 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019

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Two recommendations relate to policies and practices related to segregation. Since the inspector initiated the review into this critical incident, ACT Corrective Services has notified the management of segregation and separate confinement policy. This new policy establishes clear requirements for correctional centres to manage the segregation and separate confinement of detainees in a safe, secure, decent and humane manner. Forms related to separate confinement have also been updated that require an explanation for the reasons that the detainee has been placed in segregation and the authority to segregate the detainee under the Corrections Management Act 2007.

ACT Corrective Services recognises the significant impact that segregation regimes can have on the mental health of a detainee and is committed to ensuring that such impacts are minimised as far as is practicable. Investigative segregation is not used by ACT Corrective Services, to provide time for ACT Policing to conduct an investigation or to conduct initial interviews regarding the incident.

ACT Corrective Services accepts that the reasons noted on the detainee segregation form were not in accordance with Corrective Services policy. Corrective Services manages segregation in accordance with the newly notified management of segregation and separate confinement policy. It articulates that investigative segregation is necessary after an incident to avoid the opportunity for the detainee to associate with anyone else. Association with the general AMC population could create, or may create, a risk of harm or threatened harm to any person for perverting or attempting to pervert an investigation or undermining the security and good order at a correctional centre.

The review of the incident that occurred on 15 April 2019 identifies five findings. These provide the ACT community with assurance that ACT Corrective Services responded to this critical incident efficiently. I would like to thank the office of the Inspector of Correctional Services for this report that will continue to inform best practice in the care, treatment and safety of all detainees in the ACT’s correctional facilities.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

City-wide light rail

Discussion of matter of public importance

MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Madam Speaker has received letters from Ms Cheyne, Ms Cody, Mr Coe, Mrs Dunne, Mr Gupta, Mr Hanson, Mrs Kikkert, Ms Lawder, Ms Le Couteur, Ms Lee, Mr Milligan, Mr Parton, Mr Pettersson, and Mr Wall proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, Madam Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mr Gupta be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:

The importance of planning and committing to a city-wide light rail network.

MR GUPTA (Yerrabi) (3.55): I am pleased to rise today to speak on the importance of planning and committing to a city-wide light rail network. Light rail is a project


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