Building justice and correctional facilities for our future

12 November, 2020

Elise Archer MP

2020-21 Budget: Building justice and correctional facilities for our future

The Tasmanian Government has a Plan to rebuild a stronger Tasmania, with the 2020-21 Budget investing more than $214 million to build modern, intergenerational correctional and court  infrastructure facilities to not only service future demand but also provide for rehabilitation of prisoners.

As part of this Budget, our Government is committed to developing a modern, multidisciplinary $15 million court complex that will serve the Burnie community for future generations.

As part of our COVID-19 pandemic response, $5.9 million of that $15 million investment will be brought forward, enabling the project to progress as soon as possible. About 50,000 Tasmanians rely on access to the courts in Burnie each year alone and this project will benefit to the judiciary, staff and all court users by improving accessibility, administration, technology, transport and parking.

This Budget also reinforces our commitment to building a new Northern Regional Prison facility, with $111 million committed to complete stage one of the $270 million project. This vital project will support more than 1000 jobs and deliver an economic boost of $500 million to the region.

Work is also progressing at the new Southern Remand Centre, with this Budget committing $79.9 million to the $85 million facility which is scheduled to commence operation in late 2021. It will significantly increase the capacity of the prison system, providing more than 150 new beds, generating more than 130 jobs through the construction phase, with a further 50 ongoing jobs set to be created once the facility becomes operational.

Shared facilities at the Risdon Prison, including an expansion of the gatehouse, medical centre, visits facility, prisoner processing area and a new kitchen will be boosted by a $9.3 million injection, to help meet demand.

These investments in critical justice and correctional infrastructure will future-proof our facilities for many years to come, delivering on our promises to the Tasmanian community and planning for future generations.

This is a Budget that creates jobs, certainty and confidence and invests in making our communities stronger.