Adelaide Remand Centre operations to be privatised under justice package which includes $169m to expand city prisons
THE Adelaide Remand Centre will be privatised and $169 million invested in expanding the capacity of our main men’s and women’s prisons, the State Government has announced.
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THE Adelaide Remand Centre will be privatised and $169 million invested in expanding the capacity of our main men’s and women’s prisons, the State Government has announced.
But it says no jobs will be lost from the outsourcing of the operations of the remand centre, which currently employs 150 staff at the Currie St site.
The government has budgeted $149 million over the next four years to increase the number of high-security beds at Yatala Labour Prison from 548 to 818 and $20 million to add an extra 40 beds at the Adelaide Women’s Prison taking the total to 196.
The investment in Yatala will also include a new kitchen and prisoner admissions centre.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said spending on prisons was an investment the previous government “was not prepared to make”.
“At the rate we as a community are locking up prisoners, there is a desperate need in the short, medium and long term for additional prison beds,” he said.
“We accepted the reality that the new government has to fund this and in the long term it may well be there’s further investments in terms of prison beds which is going to be required as well.”
Corrections Minister Corey Wingard said Adelaide Remand Centre staff will have the option to transfer to other positions.
“Transferring the management of operations to a private provider is expected to deliver prison services at a lower cost,” he said.
A tender process to privatise the remand centre is expected to begin this month.
Mr Lucas said the privately operated Mount Gambier Prison was a clear indication the private sector could successfully manage prisons.
The Budget also allocates $12.9 million over four years to extend opening hours at the Norwood, Glenelg and Henley Beach police stations, using civilians to staff the stations.
The government says this will allow 48 officers to be redeployed on to the frontline.
The Independent Commissioner Against Corruption will get $14.5 million in extra funding
The Riverland will receive a $600,000 investment over four years for legal services and the Director of Public Prosecutions will receive $750,000 to fund prosecution of complex criminal cases.
Additional savings of $2.1 million will be made over the forward estimates from “efficiencies" in the Crown Solicitors’ Office.
Specialist training for staff who interview vulnerable witnesses will also be axed and the SA Native Title Services has lost a $550,000 grant.