Priorities at Corrections questioned

National Party Justice and Corrections spokesman Simon Power says he questions the Corrections Department priorities after the latest revelations around the Liam Ashley tragedy.

He’s commenting on a report today that just a day before the tragic death of Liam Ashley, the Department decided it would abandon a promised upgrade of security in prison vans.

“The Minister now needs to say whether he will order a review of that careless call.”

Mr Power says he is staggered that the Corrections Department will spend millions of taxpayer dollars on things like landscaping, flat-screen TVs and X-boxes for inmates, yet is so cavalier when it comes to public safety.

“These vans are travelling in public streets. They have to be secure, excuses count for nothing. I don’t think the public will accept the view that things like X-boxes and landscaping are more important than public safety.”

Meanwhile Mr Power is asking the Corrections Minister to “publicly lock down” the day he will release the report into Liam’s death.

“I am concerned that the Minister will cynically try to bury this report in the last-minute rush before Christmas. If that is his intention, he should make that clear now,” says Mr Power.

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