THE announcement of a public-private partnership to run the new young adult prison in Murdoch is not the issue – it is how the jail will affect the community, a Winthrop-Murdoch community group spokesman says.
Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter last week announced that a public-private partnership would be used for the running of the Murdoch prison, which in 2011 will change from the existing Rangeview Remand Centre to a prison for 18-22 year-old male offenders.
He said those offenders were particularly vulnerable to re-|offending and traditional approaches aimed at breaking the cycle of recidivism had not worked.
“It is for this reason that the State Government has decided to engage the private sector in what will be a unique offender facility with a focus on employment, training and offence-specific programs,” he said.
But Winthrop-Murdoch Community group spokesman Husain Baraja said whether the prison was run privately or publicly was not relevant.
The group members were more disappointed the minister had not held any consultation with the community.
“The Winthrop-Murdoch and Leeming community groups are not happy to have a prison in the community,” he said. “And we are not happy because of the visitors such institutions attract and the type of industries that develop around prisons.”
Alfred Cove MLA Janet Woollard said she appreciated what the Government was trying to do, but said the public-private partnership in jails had been trialled in other states and countries where it only sometimes worked.
“This system needs to be monitored very carefully and made sure it doesn’t impact negatively on the community,” she said.
Mr Porter said the management of the prison would be based on the system at Acacia Prison.
Private industry would undertake facility management and custodial services, and the Department of Corrective Services would retain all other responsibilities.