Parental incarceration
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:11): (726) My question today is for the Minister for Corrections. Minister, more than two years ago in August of 2022 the parliamentary inquiry into children affected by parental incarceration handed down a detailed report. It had 69 findings and 29 recommendations. That inquiry had dozens of submissions and witnesses, and it was a substantive piece of work by the Legal and Social Issues Committee. The day before the report was made public the government response to that report was also released. That response was a bare two pages and just outlined in generalities that the government was either working on or already doing well on these issues and listed a range of existing funding commitments. Minister, when will we see a detailed response to each of the 29 recommendations in that report?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:12): I thank Ms Copsey for her question and her interest in this manner. I think you have outlined that there were a number of recommendations – 69 findings and 29 recommendations. Some do fall within my portfolio, some across the criminal justice system and some also to other service providers. I think as a government we recognise the importance of family connection to the wellbeing of not only those in custody but also the children and family on the outside, and that is why in my portfolio we have the Living with Mum program, which is focused on ensuring that women in custody, where appropriate, where there are appropriate risk assessments, can have their young children with them in a custodial setting. We also have a number of programs focused on counselling services and support services to keep that engagement and connection. We have those services out of Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, but also we have different support and connection supports in our adult system, not necessarily in the same way.
I know that the report is continuing to inform the work of my department. We also have our cultural review into the corrections system, and some of that work is informing the rollout of that work. I know DFFH is also being informed by that report. But there is a bit of crossover in terms of those recommendations; those 29 recommendations are not all in the corrections portfolio. As minister I am committed to ensuring that those in custody and their loved ones on the outside are supported to continue those connections, because we know the best outcome for people is achieved when they are connected to community and connected to family, and that reduces their chance of recidivism but also leads to better outcomes for their loved ones on the outside.
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): Thank you, Minister for your response. In the PAEC hearings in May this year my colleague Mr Puglielli asked if any of the 29 recommendations in the inquiry’s report were acquitted by the most recent budget and you undertook to see what you could provide against those recommendations, but to date I do not think that this information has been provided. Minister, can you provide an update on the government’s response to this report? I heard your initial substantive response regarding other ministerial responsibilities. Will you, in conjunction with your other ministerial colleagues, provide further information on the government’s work towards each of the inquiry’s 29 recommendations?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:14): I thank Ms Copsey for that supplementary question. As I stated in my substantive, as a government we are already undertaking to address several of the concerns. I cannot necessarily make a commitment on behalf of other ministers, but I will see what my office can provide to assist you. What I will say is that across government we are supporting children, not only in my portfolio but whether it be in other portfolios with the Best Start, Best Life program or initiatives that are focused on supporting children. We are building over a hundred new schools across communities in our state. For those young people whose parents are incarcerated we are committed to ensuring they have connection, and I know Corrections Victoria works very closely with child protection to ensure that connection continues and the best interests of the children are considered in all those decisions. I will see what my office can provide in relation to those recommendations that fall within my portfolio.