Dhurringile Prison
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:35): (610) My question is for the Minister for Corrections. The minister’s decision to close Dhurringile Prison at the end of this month blindsided the Dhurringile and Goulburn Valley communities, especially the 160 employees at the prison and their families. Last week the local community held a meeting to discuss the future of the Dhurringile Prison site. One of the genuine concerns raised by the community was the lack of information from the department regarding the decommissioning of the site and what this actually means. Can the minister detail what assets at the Dhurringile Prison site will be removed during this decommissioning process?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:36): I thank Mrs Tyrrell for her question and her interest in Dhurringile Prison, a prison that I did announce the closure of last month. It was a difficult decision to make. But as minister I have always been forthright in saying that we need to make sure we have an efficient and effective system and make best use of our best facilities, and that is what we have done with announcing the opening of the Western Plains facility and taking the opportunity to close some of our ageing infrastructure, such as Dhurringile. I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff there. Dhurringile Prison has been an important part of our system for over 60 years. It has a great, beautiful, historic homestead onsite. I know there is great community interest in the future use of the site.
In terms of the decommissioning work, these are very detailed operational matters that I am reluctant to share for a number of security reasons. I understand decommissioning involves removing some of the security features that we employ in corrections facilities, and it would be inappropriate for me to go into that level of detail in this open forum. I am happy for my office to reach out to you and give you a broad explanation of what is happening, without compromising the security measures in place in that work. I understand that work is about to begin – from September. There are over 50 staff that are staying on – 58 in fact – but I understand that, of the 58, five have actually taken up job opportunities. So 58 are continuing on the decommissioning work, but five have already got other job opportunities, highlighting the low levels of unemployment in regional Victoria in this time and I think one of the historic low periods. On that point, I might give a shout-out to our Treasurer for his economic management; we have historically low unemployment figures in regional Victoria. So 58 staff will be continuing as part of the decommissioning work – five have had other job opportunities and have taken those opportunities – and that work will commence from 1 September.
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:38): I thank the minister for his answer. Considering the lack of consultation with staff and the community, initially with the closing of the prison and, secondly, regarding details of the decommissioning of the site, it is imperative that the government engages with the community on the future of a facility that is of such historical significance to many people. Will the minister give an undertaking to ensure thorough and continuous consultation with both the Greater Shepparton City Council and the local community on the future of the Dhurringile Prison site?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:38): I thank Mrs Tyrrell for her sincere engagement on this issue. I want to also give a shout-out to other members in this place that have approached me: Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, Ms Lovell, Mrs Tyrrell – many members have approached me about the future use of the site, and I think that is important. I have made very clear to the department my expectation of engagement and that it work very closely with the Shepparton council and with the local community. I know a lot of the surrounding neighbours are interested in the future use of the site. I mentioned earlier in my answer to the substantive that there is a historic homestead. It is beautiful, and it should be maintained. It is a really important part of Victoria’s history, and that is my expectation from the department, that that engagement work is done.