Published Thursday, 15 March, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
PRISONERS PROVIDE HELP TO STORM-TORN TARA
A team of low-risk prisoners have been sent to help residents near Tara clean up after a freak storm devastated the township on Tuesday night.
The storm lashed the township of 26 Mile, near Tara, destroying homes in less than 10 minutes with wind gusts of up to 100kmh.
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said a team of 12 prisoners, from the Darling Downs Correctional Centre, arrived in the township today to begin disaster recovery in the community.
“The prisoners will be providing help to the community for the next couple of days, and will be staying overnight at the St George prison camp site,” Ms Spence said.
“They are assisting by removing debris and fallen trees, damaged buildings and general clean up work.”
Ms Spence said the Tara Shire Mayor, Phil Bougoure, had welcomed the assistance and was supplying a council-owned truck and driver to help prisoners clear debris.
Ms Spence said the State Emergency Service had also welcomed the offer and were providing the supervised team with a work schedule.
“This type of assistance has been running for more than 15 years, when prisoner labour was used in the clean up after the Charleville flood,” Ms Spence said.
“The use of prisoner labour by prison work camps contributes around $1 million per year in labour costs to rural and regional towns.
“The project is one of the most successful inmate rehabilitation programs in Queensland - indeed, anywhere in the world.
“The work provides a positive correctional experience that gives low-risk inmates important opportunities to make reparation to the community and to develop skills and work ethic.
“Prisoners are assessed for their suitability to work in the community before being allowed to participate.”
Ms Spence said prisoners with violent or sexual offending backgrounds are not eligible to participate in the program, and said there had been no significant breaches of security or behaviour by prison camp offenders in the 15 years since the program started.
Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
The storm lashed the township of 26 Mile, near Tara, destroying homes in less than 10 minutes with wind gusts of up to 100kmh.
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said a team of 12 prisoners, from the Darling Downs Correctional Centre, arrived in the township today to begin disaster recovery in the community.
“The prisoners will be providing help to the community for the next couple of days, and will be staying overnight at the St George prison camp site,” Ms Spence said.
“They are assisting by removing debris and fallen trees, damaged buildings and general clean up work.”
Ms Spence said the Tara Shire Mayor, Phil Bougoure, had welcomed the assistance and was supplying a council-owned truck and driver to help prisoners clear debris.
Ms Spence said the State Emergency Service had also welcomed the offer and were providing the supervised team with a work schedule.
“This type of assistance has been running for more than 15 years, when prisoner labour was used in the clean up after the Charleville flood,” Ms Spence said.
“The use of prisoner labour by prison work camps contributes around $1 million per year in labour costs to rural and regional towns.
“The project is one of the most successful inmate rehabilitation programs in Queensland - indeed, anywhere in the world.
“The work provides a positive correctional experience that gives low-risk inmates important opportunities to make reparation to the community and to develop skills and work ethic.
“Prisoners are assessed for their suitability to work in the community before being allowed to participate.”
Ms Spence said prisoners with violent or sexual offending backgrounds are not eligible to participate in the program, and said there had been no significant breaches of security or behaviour by prison camp offenders in the 15 years since the program started.
Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287