Minister locks in $70m for Risdon

INCREASED resources for the criminal justice system should cut waiting times and reduce the number of people languishing in the state’s remand centres awaiting trial, Justice Minister Elise Archer says.

Ms Archer yesterday announced the new $70 million Southern Remand Centre at Risdon would be constructed by builders Hansen Yuncken.

She acknowledged criticism of the Government funding for Justice contained in the annual reports of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Chief Justice, and said work was underway to address their concerns.

“There has been an increase of course in crime across Australia — that’s the reason for increased demand on our prison systems,” she said.

“There has been a significant investment by our Government in our justice system.

“We understand that there’s more work to do in that regard, but that’s why we have invested significantly not only in infrastructure, but by better resourcing.”

Chief Justice Alan Blow in the Supreme Court annual report, released last month, said the State Government’s response to Tasmania’s worsening court backlog was “inadequate”.

There were 231 unsentenced prisoners in Tasmania in June this year and they spent a median 1.8 months on remand, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.

The new 140-bed remand facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2021.

There will be 130 jobs in the construction stage, and 50 permanent jobs in the operational phase of the prison.

Tasmania has a total of 693 adult prisoners, an increase of 13 per cent in a year — the nation’s highest increase.

Ninety-two per cent are male, with a median age of 34.9.