Corrections system
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:20): (93) My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Today the State of Incarceration report from the Justice Reform Initiative has revealed some shocking failures in our criminal justice system that are putting people in prison that should not be there. It found that over the past decade, largely under this Labor government, Victoria’s adult prison population has grown by 32 per cent. Has the minister received a briefing on the report, and if so, will the minister implement reform to our criminal justice system to arrest the growth in our prison system and support vulnerable Victorians impacted by the criminal justice system?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:21): I did see the reports in the newspapers about the report this morning. It touches on a number of portfolio responsibilities, obviously some that fall to the Attorney-General – there was commentary about the bail system, there was commentary about corrections – so I will try to address the question insofar as it falls into my portfolio responsibilities, because I do welcome discussion on this topic. I think it is an important topic, and I am pleased to see that the opposition spokesperson for this matter has talked about working with the government on criminal justice reform, because I remember a time when the opposition spokesperson or Shadow Attorney-General used to use the platform to vilify minorities in our state. I do remember that time, and my constituents in Northern Metropolitan remember that time very well; it was not that long ago, in fact.
I did read the articles, and I do note that it does recognise that in fact the incarceration rates in the prison population has actually decreased in recent years in this state. I am proud to say that since 2020 the population in prison in our state has decreased by 20 per cent. The recidivism rate has actually reduced as well; we are at a low point in the last 10 years. So they are important findings from that report.
But like I said, we want to continue to make improvements, and we are. That is why I was at Loddon Middleton on Monday talking about diversion programs, the training alternatives in place and the pathways and partnerships with educational institutions like Kangan Institute and with private sector construction companies and also about giving prisoners that employment pathway. So I welcome those reports, and I look forward to working with the opposition to bring in those criminal justice reforms needed.
Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:23): The report also finds that 53.1 per cent of people in Victorian prisons have been in prison before, 37 per cent of people exiting prison receive a prison sentence within two years of their release and Victorian taxpayers are spending $1.5 million per day on prisoners that have been incarcerated before. What is the government doing to improve outcomes for those who interact with the criminal justice system, which in large part impacts vulnerable cohorts like our Indigenous community in far greater numbers?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:23): I thank Mr Mulholland for his interest in the matter. His supplementary question is a very good question. It talks about what our government is doing. What we are doing is investing in programs that will reduce the recidivism rate, so that is diversion programs, that is housing programs – I know in the north of Melbourne there is the Maribyrnong community residential facility, which is up and running – providing pathways to housing and obviously partnerships with employment agencies to give people the best chance to turn their lives around. Obviously some of that work is being done even before they come in contact, because we all know the best outcome for people is to not have contact with the criminal justice system. But if they do make contact, then it is up to us to provide them with the best opportunities to turn their lives around. That is through training, skills development, employment opportunities and housing opportunities post release. So we are investing, like I said, real dollars, and it is costing hundreds of millions of dollars, but I view that as an investment. That is the investment in a safer Victoria for all of us.