Policy Area: Corrections

Statement of General Direction:

Contributing to safer communities through reducing the rate of criminal re-offending. To this end, the Government is committed to policies which improve the management of the corrections system and which effectively identify and address the underlying causes of criminal offending.

Key Initiatives of Policy:

Improve inmates' education and social skills.

Drug testing in prisons.

Prisoners work between 6am to 6pm, six days a week. Earnings compensate victims, family and state.

Electronic detention as alternative to prison.

Further alternatives to prison together with youth training (military) and educational opportunities preclude need for further prisons.

Prohibition on privatisation of existing prisons.

Fiscal Implications of this Policy Agreement:

Within existing baseline.

(All funding proposals subject to being considered within the agreed spending policy parameters.)

Legislative Implications of this Policy Agreement:

Drug testing legislation presently before Parliament (committee stage).