Health plan for gaol a sign of back peddling
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has called the ACT Government’s latest decision on health policy at the new gaol as a step away from human rights and best practice.
“The ACT Government has a responsibility to ensure prisoners have access to health care of the same standard as the wider community” Dr Foskey said today
“Even before public consultation on the prison health plan commences, the Government has ruled out a needle and syringe program (NSP), which is available to the wider community.”
“Blood borne diseases are a major health issue for prisoners, detainees and the general public alike.”
“Both the recent report on Aboriginal health in the prison and the human rights audit proposed the trial of an NSP in the Alexander Maconochie Centre. By deciding against such a trial, the Government is stepping away from its commitment to public health and human rights on what is, in essence, political grounds.”
“Just as worrying is the deferral of some of the Centre’s facilities that as cost reduction measures, especially the gymnasium and the quiet area.”
“There are numerous elements associated with effective rehabilitation. This government made a promise to deliver a best practice gaol.”
“It would seem that those important elements which are harder to argue in the media, and which the Opposition noisily opposes, are the first to go. I am concerned that in the end this Centre will be a gaol like all others” Dr Foskey said.
