Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:02): My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Can the minister advise the house whether any prisoners in Victoria were granted emergency management days as a result of the custodial disruptions from the state of emergency declared for the recent bushfires?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:02): I thank Dr Heath for that question and her interest in these matters. You would understand that the powers to grant emergency management days lie with our commissioner. As of this date I do not have a record of any additional emergency management days that have been granted as yet, but they are not uncommon when there are emergencies and they would be applicable. But that is up to the commissioner to decide. As you can understand, there is a level of detail – every prisoner placement and every emergency management stated. What I will say is I am happy to take that on notice and ask the commissioner to see if any have been granted recently. But you understand there are 7000 people in our corrections system, and these are detailed operational questions. If you were to write to me or email me, I would be happy to share that information with you, Dr Heath.

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:03): I thank the minister for his response, and I guess given that he does not know, here is another one that he can take on notice: can the minister now advise the house of the number of emergency management days granted to violent and high-risk offenders due to the state of emergency?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:03): I thank Dr Heath for her question and her interest in our corrections system. In terms of placements and the granting of emergency management days, these are highly operational matters. We do provide guidelines to our commissioners and governors in our prisons, or general managers, to make sure they apply them appropriately. But in relation to the details of that question, it is a highly operational one. I am happy to take it on notice and respond in accordance with the standing orders.

The PRESIDENT: I appreciate the minister’s offer and also the Treasurer’s offer on the last two questions. There have been a number of rulings around the expectation of level of detail to a minister in a question without notice. I am going from rulings from all sorts of other great presidents. Do not just rely on me. My concern is that we could set a precedent into the future where there is this expectation. I appreciate the minister’s offer, but I will not be demanding it be within the standing orders. I think that he is genuine in his offer to get the detail to the member as soon as possible.