Thursday, 17 August 2023

Corrections system

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:21): (246) My question is for the Minister for Corrections. It is my understanding that upon release from prison there are sometimes delays for ex-prisoners who had been receiving opiate substitution therapy in prison in receiving it upon release. This can lead to people going into withdrawal. Sometimes this delay can lead to people going back onto heroin. Obviously this is not desirable and presumably affects recidivism rates. What actions is the minister taking to correct this situation?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:22): I thank Mr Limbrick for his interest in this important matter of drug and substance abuse and the effect it can have in the community and on reoffending for people upon release from custody. Strictly speaking, as the corrections minister I am in charge of people whilst they are in custodial settings and on corrections orders. Alcohol and drugs in the community are more a matter for the Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams in the other place. Having said that, as the Minister for Corrections, we are focused on improving health outcomes for those in our custody. We obviously have new health contracts in place with improved services that we are providing because we know people that come into our custodial settings have more complex needs and substance abuse is quite common.

I can say in terms of what we do provide – because I understand your longstanding interest in this matter – that we do provide people with supports upon their release into the community. They will be provided with scripts. They are provided with material support to access treatment. That includes support with transport and dispensing, because we know they need that support immediately. We want to continue the health services as they are released into the community. It is really embedded into their release planning. There is always more we can do, of course.

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:23): I thank the minister for his response. On a related matter, it is also my understanding that sometimes prisoners suffering opioid addiction are unable to access substitutes upon incarceration and are forced to undergo medically unsupervised withdrawal. What actions is the minister taking to ensure that this dangerous scenario does not occur?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:24): I thank Mr Limbrick for his interest in this very important public health issue. What I will say is that as a government we obviously know, anecdotally but also from speaking to people, experts in the field, that it can be sometimes difficult for people to connect with pharmacologists in the community for a range of reasons. That is why as a government we have looked at this. Like I said, it is more in the mental health space under Minister Williams in the other place. That is why the government has made an investment of $10 million in this year’s budget for pharmacotherapy clinics across our state so that more people can access these services. There is obviously a lot more we are doing. They fall not necessarily in the corrections portfolio, because obviously we help with the release planning, provide them with scripts and provide them with opportunities and transport so they can get the support they need. It is more in the alcohol and drug space, but we are making investments so that people can access pharmacists in the community that are willing to help them to a greater extent.