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WA

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Corrections Minister Steps Down

Western Australian Minister for Corrective Services Paul Papalia has stood down from the role and retired from politics.

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Papalia said that an immediate family member had been diagnosed with a serious illness, and that he would be retiring to give his family “what they need”.

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He has served as the Minister responsible for prisons since mid-2021.

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Bandyup Inmates Take to the Catwalk

A new program at Bandyup Women’s Prison has seen a number of women take to the catwalk while also developing practical employment skills.

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As part of a partnership with the Dress for Success organisation, 12 women at the prison took part in the one-week program, which involved them picking from donated professional clothing to find an outfit that suited their style.

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The interview-ready outfits were paired with hair and make-up styling.

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At the end of the program, women from the prison, custodial staff and guests gathered in the prison’s gym to watch the women walk the catwalk.

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ACT

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Increased Use of Victims of Crime Registry

The number of people trying to access support services for victims of crime has increased in the ACT.

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The adult offenders register supports people victimised by adult offenders serving a prison sentence or community supervision order.

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It is now operated by Victim Support ACT, which sits within the Human Rights Commission.

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There are now more than 500 people listed on the registry, an increase of more than 200 per cent since the end of 2022.

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People on the victim register are kept informed about the management of an offender’s sentence once the information is shared by ACT Corrective Services.

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TAS

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Mandatory Sentencing for Gun Theft

Anyone found guilty of stealing a firearm will face a mandatory three-month prison sentence under a Tasmanian government plan.

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The state government is consulting on new gun laws.

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Under the plan, anyone found to have stolen a firearm or was caught in possession of a stolen gun will automatically receive at least a three-month sentence.

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QLD

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Prison Term For Some Driving Offences Increased

Some driving offences will come with a potential 25-year prison sentence under a plan put forward by the Queensland government.

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Under current law in the state, it must be proven that the presence of meth in a driver’s system directly impaired their ability to operate a car at the exact moment of an incident.

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But under the new laws, the detection of meth in driver involved in an incident leading to death or grievous bodily harm will be automatically classed as an aggravating factor.

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The financial penalties and minimum license disqualification periods for other drink and drug driving offences will also be doubled under the plan.

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This means that a first-time offender could receive a fine of more than $5,000.

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Despite calls from advocates, the Queensland government has not moved to exempt legally prescribed medical cannabis from these zero-tolerance rules.

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Person in Prison Denied Attempt to Freeze Eggs

By QLD Prisoners’ Legal Service

A prisoner in Queensland has been unsuccessful in her appeal where she argued that she should be allowed to freeze her eggs while incarcerated.

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Under Section 22 of the Queensland Corrective Services Act (the CSA), prisoners may apply to undergo private medical treatment.

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But, also under Section 22 of the CSA, a prisoner cannot “participate in assisted reproductive technology”.

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The prisoner argued that “assisted reproductive technology” did not mean egg-freezing.

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The court considered whether egg freezing could be defined as “assisted reproductive technology” and the extent to which Queensland’s Human Rights Act effected the interpretation of the CSA.

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Ultimately, the Court of Appeal said that the decision to refuse access to egg-freezing was lawful because it fell into the category of “assisted reproductive technology”, which is prohibited for prisoners by Section 22 of the CSA.

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NSW

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Inmates Help Raise Orphaned Lambs

A program at Cooma Correctional Centre has now helped 300 orphaned lambs.

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As part of the program, trained inmates at the minimum-medium-security prison hand raise an orphaned lamb 24-7.

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This involves making draft-free areas for sleeping, providing small feeds five times a day and keeping the lambs warm.

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Forty people have been trained through this program, which began in 2019.

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Fifteen lambs were first cared for in 2019, and now there is an average of 40 lambs in the program at Cooma prison.

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SA

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Extra Beds for Mount Gambier Prison

Just under 60 new temporary beds will continue to be available at Mount Gambier prison.

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The recent South Australian state budget included $16.5 million over four years, which will allow 59 new beds at Mount Gambier Prison to continue operating.

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There are now more than 700 people at the Mount Gambier prison, which is privately operated.

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There were 3574 people in prison in South Australia at the end of March, a 4 per cent increase from the previous year.

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VIC

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Increase in First Nations Incarceration

The number of First Nations people behind bars in Victoria has increased significantly in the last year.

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The Victorian government’s bail reforms have led to the number of incarcerated First Nations people increasing by nearly a quarter in the last year.

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At the end of May this year, there were 1094 First Nations people in prison in Victoria, an increase of more than 200 since the same time last year.

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The rate of imprisonment for First Nations women has increased by more than 85 per cent in the same time.

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Nearly half of all the First Nations people in prison are on remand awaiting trial.

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Fire at Barwon Prison

A fire broke out inside a cell at Barwon Prison in late June.

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There were reports of smoke and flames inside the cell, with emergency services called.

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Four people were treated for smoke inhalation due to the fire.

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Marngoneet Inmates Provide Veggies For Those in Need

People incarcerated at Marngoneet Correctional Centre are providing food to those in need in the local community.

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A number of inmates at the prison manage a vegetable plot that started with donated seedlings from a local commercial grower.

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Some of the vegetables grown at the prison are provided to the Geelong Food Relief Centre, which provides food to people experiencing hardship in the Geelong region.

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The Marngoneet veggie plot features corn, rockmelon, honeydew, capsicum, zucchini, bok choy, looks, broccoli and cauliflower, among others.

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People at the prison handle planting, maintenance, harvesting and packing of the vegetables.

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In just one week recently, six boxes of fresh produce were sent to the relief centre, and this is expected to increase as the veggie garden grows.