MORE PRISON BEDS AND BETTER SECURITY UNDER BEATTIE GOVT
Published Monday, 04 June, 2007 at 05:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Premier Peter Beattie said today the State Government would build more prison beds and boost perimeter security at correctional centres to cater for Queensland’s growing prison population.
“The 2007-08 State Budget will provide $231 million dollars in capital works to build new prisons and upgrade existing facilities,” Mr Beattie said.
“We’re spending a total of $163.7 million this year on the new women’s prison and the upgrade of the men’s correctional centre in Townsville.
“The budget also commits $19.9 million to complete the $55 million expansion of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and $44.3 million to complete the $110 million redevelopment of the former Sir David Longlands prison which will open as the Brisbane Correctional Centre in December.
“These projects will deliver an extra 690 prisoner beds at correctional facilities by April 2008,” Mr Beattie said.
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said in addition to the capital works the government will also spend $3.5 million on planning and development for a new prison precinct in the Gatton District.
“We are planning for the future growth of Queensland’s prison population and the new prison precinct at Gatton is a major part of this planning,” Ms Spence said.
Mr Beattie said the government is proud of its record of no escapes from secure custody and is continuing to fund major upgrades of perimeter security at prisons to preserve this record.
“We are spending $7.7 million for the continued upgrade of perimeter security at correctional centres and the Government has committed an extra $10 million in this budget to the program,” Mr Beattie said.
“Already upgrades to perimeter security have been completed at the Brisbane Women’s, Lotus Glen and Borallon Correctional Centres.
“The upgraded Brisbane Correctional Centre will have its new security system installed and staffed trained by November this year,” Mr Beattie said
Ms Spence said the upgrades would include major works at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
“There will be an upgrade of master control rooms to cater for new technology, an upgrade of perimeter gates to allow better control and lightning protection for security cameras and all perimeter field devices,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact:
Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s office: 3224 4379
Corrective Services Minister’s Office: 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
“The 2007-08 State Budget will provide $231 million dollars in capital works to build new prisons and upgrade existing facilities,” Mr Beattie said.
“We’re spending a total of $163.7 million this year on the new women’s prison and the upgrade of the men’s correctional centre in Townsville.
“The budget also commits $19.9 million to complete the $55 million expansion of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and $44.3 million to complete the $110 million redevelopment of the former Sir David Longlands prison which will open as the Brisbane Correctional Centre in December.
“These projects will deliver an extra 690 prisoner beds at correctional facilities by April 2008,” Mr Beattie said.
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said in addition to the capital works the government will also spend $3.5 million on planning and development for a new prison precinct in the Gatton District.
“We are planning for the future growth of Queensland’s prison population and the new prison precinct at Gatton is a major part of this planning,” Ms Spence said.
Mr Beattie said the government is proud of its record of no escapes from secure custody and is continuing to fund major upgrades of perimeter security at prisons to preserve this record.
“We are spending $7.7 million for the continued upgrade of perimeter security at correctional centres and the Government has committed an extra $10 million in this budget to the program,” Mr Beattie said.
“Already upgrades to perimeter security have been completed at the Brisbane Women’s, Lotus Glen and Borallon Correctional Centres.
“The upgraded Brisbane Correctional Centre will have its new security system installed and staffed trained by November this year,” Mr Beattie said
Ms Spence said the upgrades would include major works at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
“There will be an upgrade of master control rooms to cater for new technology, an upgrade of perimeter gates to allow better control and lightning protection for security cameras and all perimeter field devices,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact:
Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s office: 3224 4379
Corrective Services Minister’s Office: 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287