Talks to lock away Westbury jail shift

THIS IS JUST AN ELEGANT SOLUTION IN THE MAKING — IT WILL SAVE THE PEOPLE OF TASMANIA TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

GREENS LEADER CASSY O’CONNOR

STATE cabinet has considered shifting the proposed new northern prison to the site of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre at Deloraine, Premier Peter Gutwein has confirmed.

Mr Gutwein last week announced Ashley would close in three years and be replaced by smaller facilities in the state’s North and South.

In state parliament on Tuesday, Attorney-General Elise Archer did not rule out the possibility the controversial northern prison project, proposed for a greenfields site near Westbury, could be constructed at the Ashley location instead.

“Yesterday, my colleagues and I have discussed the potential use of the site for the northern correctional facility,” she said.

“Importantly, whilst discussions have occurred, no decision has been made.”

Later, Mr Gutwein confirmed the site of the prison had been on the agenda at Monday’s cabinet meeting.

“Yesterday, (Ms Archer) and I along with our colleagues had a discussion about this,” he said.

“We’ll do some further work, no decision has been made. We’ll have a look at it.

“One thing, that I absolutely commit in, should a decision be made that it’s something that we will take further steps on, we will engage with the community and will consult.”

The government’s plan for the Westbury site has been met with strong opposition from some local residents.

Moving the prison to Deloraine would solve a major headache for the government — as well as providing a jobs boost for the area once Ashley closes.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said she was heartened by what she had heard from the government on issue on Tuesday.

“It’s very clear that the government is now looking at Ashley as the site for the future northern prison in conversation with the people of Deloraine,” Ms O’Connor said.

“This is just an elegant solution in the making — it will save the people of Tasmania tens of millions of dollars, it’ll save government from having to go through a whole lot of palava with the federal government over the natural values in the Brushy Creek reserve.

“And there’s a population in Deloraine that has become accustomed to having a correctional facility relatively nearby.”