This decision by the new Victorian minority Labor government, if
implemented, will set a global precedent bar none, and the private prison
marketplace will quake. The for-profit providers will fight this with
every means legal and otherwise at their disposal.
A quick note of encouragement and support is warranted;
The new Minister for Corrections, Hon. Andre Haermeyer:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The new Premier, Hon. Steve Bracks:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
With a cc: to the three independents who drafted the charter of good
government and upon whom this minority government depends to remain in power:
Susan Davies:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Russell Savage:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Craig Ingram:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
THE AGE: LABOR PLAN TO END PRIVATE JAILS
By PAUL CONROY CHIEF CRIME REPORTER
Tuesday 2 November 1999
The Victorian Government plans to return the troubled private prisons to
the public sector, possibly when contracts with three private jail
operators expire as early as next year.
As part of a major overhaul of law and order, the Minister for Corrections
and Police, Mr Andre Haermeyer, said yesterday that he wanted to remove the
profit motive in running jails.
In an interview with The Age, Mr Haermeyer said he intended to seek legal
advice about existing contracts with private prison operators in Victoria.
"Our commitment is to extract ourselves from those contracts at the
earliest legal opportunity. However, that doesn't mean we are going to fork
out large amounts of money," he said.
Mr Haermeyer said the public sector should resume control of those prisons
in some shape or form. "We don't care who owns the facilities. We do care
who runs them and we basically want the profit motive taken out of running
the prisons."
Mr Haermeyer also unveiled other key changes to be implemented in
consultation with police, including:
* Consider placing more police on the streets, especially in the central
business district, to deal with drug-related crime.
* A review of new powers given to the chief commissioner, Mr Neil Comrie,
to sack officers in whom police management has lost confidence.
* A new appeal system for police who protest against decisions by police
command in regard to promotions, transfers and disciplinary action.
* Fulfilling an election pledge for 800 extra police over the next four
years, including 150 administrative staff.
* A ban on senior police obtaining the telephone billing records of
individual officers suspected of talking to the media.
Mr Haermeyer said the Government would not rush into changes to the prison
system.
Legal sources said last night that the contract with Deer Park private
women's prison expired in August next year. They said other contracts with
Fulham (Sale) and Port Phillip (Laverton) prisons lapse in mid and late
2002 respectively.
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* Support * Reform * Restoration *
In Criminal Justice & Prisons
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Newtown NSW 2042 Australia
MessageBank: 02 8250 5582
No New Women's Prison Campaign:
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