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Budget 2022-23
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STRONG INVESTMENT IN OUR CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

Elise Archer MP, Attorney-General, Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation

The 2022-23 State Budget is strengthening Tasmania’s future with key investments in our correctional system that will help keep our communities and staff safe, while providing offenders with more opportunities for rehabilitation.

The Budget locks in $85 million to finalise construction of the new Southern Remand Centre (SRC), along with $13.8 million across the Forward Estimates to support its operations.

I am very proud of this facility. Its design will provide a positive environmental experience for staff and remandees, and support effective and efficient prison operations as well as improve legal access and rehabilitation outcomes.

The SRC has been built with best practice rehabilitation front of mind, and once operational, will allow people on remand to be housed separately from those who have been sentenced.

To support my portfolio of Corrections and Rehabilitation, we will invest $500,000 this year into more literacy programs that will support offenders to improve their functional literacy and improve opportunities for employment upon their release.

Boosting Correctional Officer numbers remains a key focus of mine in 2022, with four new recruit schools scheduled for this year, resulting in the most recruit schools ever conducted in a calendar by the Tasmania Prison Service.

We will also continue to invest in the safety of our hard-working corrections staff with $3.6 million to replace the Mobile Duress Alarm System at the Risdon Prison Complex and Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison – ensuring we continue to provide a safe and secure work environment.

The Budget will also continue to deliver rehabilitation and reintegration commitments we took to the 2021 election, including:

  • $780,000 over three years to partner with the Australian Red Cross to deliver its Community Based Health First Aid (CBHFA) program;
  • $610,000 over three years to partner with Connect 42 to deliver the Just Time Prison Parenting Program;
  • $100,000 over three years to partner with Dress for Success Hobart to expand the Welcome Back(pack) initiative; and
  • $1 million over two years to fund five new therapeutic staff to work within the corrections system.

With an investment in the Budget of $1.3 million, the introduction of body scanning technology in correctional facilities across the State will be another tool to help ensure the safety of our correctional staff, as well as prisoners and detainees.

Tasmanians’ priorities are our priorities and this Budget continues my strong focus to ensure the safety of everyone within our corrections system and our community, while providing a safe and secure environment for both staff and prisoners.