[First filed: March 30, 2009 @ 18:49]
John Hargreaves is trumpeting the stellar achievement of getting prisoners into the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
- “Prisoners will be transferred to the AMC incrementally, beginning with prisoners currently held in ACT correctional facilities, followed by ACT sentenced prisoners in New South Wales. I am advised that all transfers should be completed within the next few months.
“By having a staged prisoner intake process it allows for appropriate prisoner placement and an opportunity for staff to refine operations.
Open by the end of March too (by the skin of his teeth).
And now the fun really starts.
UPDATED: Jeremy Hanson is unkindly pointing out how we all came to be here:
- The ACT Government’s rush to accept prisoners into the Alexander Maconochie Centre today while security defects continue to plague the facility marks another chapter in an embarrassing saga for the embattled Corrections Minister John Hargreaves, Shadow Minister for Corrections Jeremy Hanson said today.
The alarm system still has defects, there is no outer perimeter fence, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system isn’t working, and a whistleblower has recently raised serious claims about the integrity of other aspects of the facility.
“In addition to security issues, we know that the AMC won’t have the gym as originally intended, or the chapel, and is a much smaller facility than was initially proposed.
FURTHER UPDATE: John Hargreaves is returning fire in our first genuine debate since the election:
- “They also say there is no outer perimeter fence at the AMC. There are in fact three perimeter fences! Perhaps they are confused because there is no razor wire at the facility. Let me assure them that this human rights’ compliant prison isn’t meant to have razor wire.
“Similarly, they say there won’t be a chapel. Yet they know that a multi-faith centre is being built for prisoners as Mr Hanson was present when the issue was recently raised at an Annual Reports hearing (See 08-09 Budget Paper No5, Page 59.) Corrective Services will consult with prisoners in the facility before it is built, to ensure that it will be utilised to its full extent as after all, they will be the ones using the facility.
“They have known for months that the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system will be retro-fitted and not available immediately. The opposition spokesperson for Corrections also knows that the AMC will be the first prison in Australia to have this system when it is available in the next few months.
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