Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Corrections system

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (13:52): (563) My question is to the Minister for Corrections. During her appearance at PAEC the commissioner for corrections noted that defects discovered at both the newly built Melbourne remand centre and Barwon Prison mean both facilities are now being reviewed. Minister, what defects were discovered that need a review to take place?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (13:53): I thank Mr Mulholland for his interest in our corrections system and our investments in our corrections infrastructure. I think as a government we have been very up-front about the need to upgrade and improve our system, remembering that when we came into government we inherited a system that was over capacity and had ageing infrastructure, and as a government we have made investments to improve the system across the system. We make no apologies for making those investments.

In relation to that question, I do recall that question by Mr O’Brien, and I want to thank him. He was very engaging in the PAEC process, and I want to thank him for the participation. I think it is important that we have those processes in place, and as minister I was being very up-front. In relation to –

Nick McGowan interjected.

Enver ERDOGAN: I will take up that interjection, Mr McGowan. Mr O’Brien was the one that asked the question about that facility. We have invested in upgrades –

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, the minister has had a generous amount of time. It was a very specific question to ask what defects were discovered that require a review to take place, and I would ask the minister to stay relevant to that.

The PRESIDENT: I think the minister was responding to part of the preamble, and I will call the minister for the answer.

Enver ERDOGAN: We have invested in upgrading our facilities, and the prison infill expansion is part of that. But in relation to the programs that Mr O’Brien asked about and I answered, that project is not yet complete and the department is managing those contracts to make sure that the new infrastructure meets the quality expected. So there is still a process. Those opposite have been out of government for a long time, so they may not understand that when you have large infrastructure projects defects do come up. It is my expectation that they are rectified. There will be a process, but these upgrades are not yet required due to the low numbers in custody. So we are in a –

Evan Mulholland: On a point of order, President, it was not you that answered the question. The question I was asking pointed out that it was the commissioner that answered the question in regard to the defects that were found, and we want to know what defects there are.

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order.

Enver ERDOGAN: Mr Mulholland, in relation to this project, it is still not complete. There is going to have to be a process about the defects. As Minister, I get regularly briefed by the department about what needs to be improved. In relation to the defects, there will be an investigation and there will be recommendations, but we need to understand that we need to protect the commercial position of the state in relation to these matters. With any large infrastructure project, I expect that the quality that the government signed up to is met.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (13:56): Minister, isn’t it a fact that there is black mould that requires major works and the possible demolition of the two new facilities due to safety issues?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (13:56): I thank Mr Mulholland for the supplementary. As I stated in my substantive, construction is not yet complete, and where there are defects it is my expectation that they are rectified. The department is working through it with the contractors to make sure that they are brought up to scratch. In relation to that process, I am not going to say anything in this chamber that may compromise the position of the state. That would be irresponsible. But in the meantime, we are in a good position in Victoria. We have ample capacity in our system, unlike when those opposite were in government. We have invested in infrastructure across the board and modernised the system, and we will keep doing that.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (13:56:506:): I move:

That the minister’s answer be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.