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- 29 October 2003
Prisoners Bush Fire Fighting Assistance
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Page: 4279
The Hon. IAN WEST: Will the Minister for Justice advise the House of the role played by the Department of Corrective Services in controlling bushfires?
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: Honourable members will recall that earlier this year I criticised the Opposition for having announced a policy of upgrading minimum security inmates to medium security at a cost of $247 million, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars worth of valuable community work. I indicated that that policy ran contrary to even what Michael Yabsley was arguing for. I was interested to read the report of the shadow Minister following his 42-day overseas trip. He commented on the role of overseas corrections organisations in bushfires and the whole question of minimum security inmates. He stated:
The Californian model of 'Prisons without Walls' would be an appropriate option to apply here in New South Wales... they act as firefighters, and make up inmate fire crews and help extinguish hundreds of wildfires each year in California...
In New South Wales we are fortunate to have volunteers in the SES and Rural Fire Service who augment full time emergency workers. There are clearly occasions when additional personnel such as inmate teams could be used to augment those resources in the circumstances of bushfires and disasters...
Inmates could be utilised in repairing fences and clearing to protect and rehabilitate rural properties from fire damage... clearly they are a force that could be harnessed in a range of reforestation wildlife preservation projects. If offenders were to participate in what would end up being a rigorous army style 'boot camp' or 'bush camp' regime, not only are they to contribute something back to society, they can also develop some skills and learn a stronger work ethic.
I do not know how that can be done if all inmates are put up from minimum security to medium security, but in any event I congratulate the shadow Minister on apparently having resiled from his earlier announcement. It would, however, be rare if the shadow Minister, who is not only responsible for the Justice portfolio but also for Emergency Services, were able to familiarise himself with what the Department of Corrective Services does in this area. It would be of interest to him to know that there are firefighting efforts established in a number of centres, but in particular at Glen Innes, to assist the Rural Fire Service in fighting bushfires and in back-burning operations, and in assisting State Forests in general bush maintenance. This unit currently consists of 16 inmates and 6 staff, and it has access to one fire tanker and a pumper.
The Hon. John Ryan: That is one centre out of how many thousand?
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: I will get to the other ones in a minute. During the 2002-03 bushfire season, this unit was called upon on numerous occasions to assist in controlling bushfires. For example, in October 2002 a major fire erupted in the pine forest that is adjacent to the centre. The fire was brought under control with the assistance of the centre's firefighting unit. Due to the quick response of the centre's staff and inmate fire crew, there was no loss of life, no damage to the centre, and the damage sustained to the pine plantation was less than anticipated by State Forests. I will outline some of the views expressed by the community. The Glen Innes Examiner stated:
Fires in the State Forest areas adjacent to the Glen Innes Correctional Centre... were controlled largely thanks to a contingent of Corrective Service officers and inmates from the centre.
A letter to the editor a few months later stated:
My brother Dean currently residing at Glen Innes Correctional Centre... has been fighting fires and chopping down trees... and has been offered a position in the State Forestry Commission upon his release... I can only put it down to the great people in Glen Innes and the Staff at the correctional centre who have seen the good in my brother. Once again thank you Glen Innes for being the great community that you are.
Acknowledgements have also come from State Forests, which has commended the work that is being done by the Glen Innes centre. Inmates from Cessnock and St Heliers correctional centres also provided backup to firefighters in the Hunter Valley during November and December last year. In the near future a firefighting unit will be established at the Oberon Correctional Centre with inmates initially being trained in firefighting, back-burning and hazard reduction. [Time expired.]
The Hon. IAN WEST: I ask a supplementary question. Will the Minister further elucidate on his answer?
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: At the Kirkconnell Correctional Centre, inmates conduct hazard reduction in conjunction with State Forests on a regular basis. During January 2003 inmates and staff at the Cooma correctional centre were requested by the local community to assist with clearing areas around a church.
The Hon. Rick Colless: Point of order: This is not elucidation. The Minister is simply continuing to read from a document. It is obvious that his answer was prepared for a six-minute speech, not a four-minute speech.
The PRESIDENT: Order! As I have pointed out to members on numerous occasions, for a question to be in order a number of criteria must be fulfilled. However, for an answer to be in order only two criteria must be fulfilled: the answer must be relevant, and a member, in answering a question, must not debate the question. The Minister's answer is relevant and it is in order.
The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: The area in question was around Jindabyne and was cleared of all debris by the working party in the most trying conditions. It was evident that if the area had not been cleared, the chances of saving the church and surrounding buildings would have been minimal. At Mannus Correctional Centre inmates assist in hazard reduction programs, and consideration is being given to establishment of a unit to assist in mopping-up operations. These are but a number of efforts that have been taken on by the Department of Corrective Services in the quest to control bushfires. I am pleased that those efforts have the support of the shadow Minister, even though he had to go overseas to find out their value.
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