Too few to keep watch over prisons

THE official responsible for making sure the state’s prisons meet basic standards says he doesn’t have enough resources to do his job.

Richard Connock is Tasmania’s Custodial Inspector, as well as being the Ombudsman, Health Complaints Commissioner, Principal Mental Health Official Visitor, the coordinator of the Prison Official Visits Scheme and responsible for Right to Information Act appeals.

His annual report was presented to state parliament on Wednesday, noting that just two staff oversee the state’s entire prison system.

“As I have consistently reported, having now completed a three-year cycle of inspections, it is overwhelmingly apparent that additional staff are required,” the report says.

“The inadequacy of staffing is reflected by the long delays between inspections and the publication of reports, as well as the need to cancel the scheduled inspection of the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison.

“As I had reported on a number of occasions, through the inspectorate’s budget submissions, I have requested an increased allocation for adequate funding … regrettably all these have been declined.”

Mr Connock noted the work of the custodial inspector was only going to increase when the Southern Remand Centre at Risdon and the new northern prison opened.

There was some additional funding for the Ombudsman’s office in last week’s state budget: $500,000 next financial year, rising to $1m a year in 2023/24 and beyond.

“I will continue my strong focus on doing all our government can to ensure the huTASMANIANS’ mane treatment and successful rehabilitation of prisoners, and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of correctional staff and the community,” Corrections Minister Elise Archer said.

Established to provide “independent, proactive, preventive and systemic oversight of custodial centres, the custodial inspector has repeatedly highlighted failings in the management of the state’s prison system.

A recent report found the high incidence of lockdowns in Tasmania’s prison system was in breach of state law and basic human rights standards and put staff and inmates at risk.

Tasmanian prisoners spend less time outside their cells than prisoners anywhere else in the country – an average of two hours less a day.

Another report dating from July found that “prolonged and persistent inadequacies in the system (had) not been addressed.”