The ACT’s Minister for Corrections, John Hargreaves, is hitting back at recent criticism of his officially open prisoner-free prison (aka the Alexander Maconochie Centre).
- “As Mr Hanson is well aware, the Alexander Maconochie Centre’s security system has been subject to independent and continual assessment since the inception of the project,” Mr Hargreaves said.
“This has been performed by a company, Webb Australia Group, which has extensive experience with the design and commissioning of security systems at many prisons across Australia. Some of these prisons include SEQ1 and SEQW, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, Rockhampton Correctional Centre in Queensland and Ararat Correctional Centre in Victoria.
“Webb has been heavily involved in developing the specifications for the security system and now in ensuring the prison meets these specifications. Indeed the very reason for the delay in the completion of the AMC has been to ensure the security system is safe for the public, safe for staff and safe for prisoners.
Mr Hargreaves also makes the point that another security audit will mean continuing the conditions within his corrections service, so widely criticised to date. Which doesn’t inspire much confidence if one thinks about it.
What he doesn’t repeat in this statement is the comment made to the ABC that the AMC will be actually housing inmates “before the end of the month”.
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