Thursday, 28 August 2025

Corrections system

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:11): (1031) My question is for the Minister for Corrections. There has been lots of speculation by people around these machete bins and where they were manufactured. I spoke to a metal fabricator in my electorate, and they said that they did not see them pop up on a government tender website. There was some speculation from other people that they were actually built within the prison system. Can the minister please confirm whether or not that is actually the case?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:12): I thank Mr Limbrick for his question and his interest in our inside jobs program in our corrections system. We are nation leading and dare I say internationally leading with our employment pathways, and some of those pathways are in metal fabrication, I may add, at a number of our public prisons. We are proud also of our partnerships with the TAFE sector in terms of our centres of excellence, and the Kangan Institute in Bendigo, for example, is an important partner in this space. In relation to the manufacture of those bins, it is probably a question better addressed to the Minister for Police in the other place, which I am happy to put to him, because that work was commissioned through the police portfolio. I will ask him about the manufacture of those bins and seek a response in line with the standing orders if that pleases Mr Limbrick.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I would prefer that you do not do it that way. If Mr Limbrick wants to redirect his question to the Minister for Police, then the standing orders will apply, but you can offer to give information outside the standing orders if you feel that would be helpful.

David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:13): If I could just clarify, I am not actually sure whether that was a yes, a no or a do not know.

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:13): Mr Limbrick, in terms of the work inside our prison system and the contracts they have in place, Corrections Victoria manages those. I can seek guidance from them if you wish me to do so and take that on notice to get a response. But in terms of the broader bins, that work was commissioned through the police minister’s portfolio, and I am happy to get a written response if you want me to redirect your question about who they contracted to build those bins.