GRANT District Council says it wants to take part in a high-ranking delegation seeking answers over the prisoner release process at the expanded Moorak correctional facility.
Deputy Mayor Gill Clayfield threw down the gauntlet at this week’s council meeting that Grant delegates must participate in talks with Correctional Services Minister Corey Wingard.
Cr Clayfield has been given the green light to represent the council during these potential talks given a “perceived interest” being declared by Grant District Mayor Richard Sage.
Mr Sage – who has been publicly silent over the issue – is employed by prison operator G4S.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin is scheduled to meet with Mr Wingard this Tuesday in Adelaide following City Council elected members raising serious concerns over the unrestricted release of some prisoners into the community.
Following Monday night’s decision, Mount Gambier City Council yesterday contacted Mr Wingard’s office asking if Grant council representatives could take part in the roundtable discussion.
At this week’s meeting, Cr Clayfield questioned whether council had a “policy or opinion” in regards to the prison release process.
This follows The Border Watch running a series of prominent exclusive stories revealing for the first time that a long-standing departmental agreement – that “all prisoners” are returned to their place of residence – is not being enforced for many released inmates.
“I do know in Friday’s Border Watch Graham Greenwood did say ‘why is there a deafening silence coming Grant District Council’?,” Cr Clayfield said at this week’s meeting.
Breaking his silence on the issue, Mr Sage said the prisoner release process was handled by the department and not the private operator of the prison.
“If you look up the papers (The Border Watch) you will see what is written is pretty factual, but the release of the prisoners is not really up to G4S – they do not control the releases.”
The mayor said it was a “work in the progress” and a “few issues” had been raised through these articles.
“I think in time you will see some work being done on it at the prison,” Mr Sage said.
He said Mount Gambier City Council had scheduled a meeting with Mr Wingard on September 10.
“Once they come back, there will be some more work done on it,” Mr Sage said.
The mayor flagged it may not be necessary for Grant council to participate in these talks.
“At this stage let them do their work and come back,” Mr Sage said.
But Cr Megan Dukalskis interjected and said she believed Mr Sage was not in a position to make that comment.
“Richard you have a conflict of interest because you are employed by the jail and you are also the mayor of this council,” Cr Dukalskis said.
Adding to the debate, Cr Clayfield said Grant council needed to be part of the discussion given the jail was in its district and a request should be sent to join the delegation.
Moreover, Cr Clayfield said she wanted the matter discussed formally in the chamber at an upcoming meeting.
“So we (elected members) can also make some comments from Grant District Council in relation to the release program,” she said.
“I speak to a lot of people in education and I hear from them about the number of children who are moving into certain schools in Mount Gambier as a result of a placement of a relative in jail.
“When that relative is released from jail, they are not withdrawing their children – they are not going back to where they came from because the families have moved here.”
Council acting chief executive officer Jane Fetherstonhaugh – who is also likely to take part in the talks – said there was “no formal” policy on the prisoner release process.
Over the past nine years, she said council had no responsibility in approving the prison expansions.
“When we have commented, we have expressed our disappointment in the need to further expand the prison. That has been a resolution of council.”
Ms Fetherstonhaugh said she had contacted The Border Watch and had sent a statement.
“I wish to clarify comments made by your columnist Graham Greenwood in Friday’s edition of The Border Watch,” the statement said.
“The Grant District Council receive no rates from the prison. Under Section 147 of the Local Government Act 1999 all land held by the Crown (State Government) is exempt from council rates.
“This matter is regulated by the State Government and not a policy decision or discretion of council.”
Council passed two motions at this week’s meeting, which formalised a request to City Council to join the delegation and a formal report be tabled at a council meeting so a policy/opinion on the matter could be developed.
Mr Sage also confirmed he had a “perceived conflict of interest” but did not leave the chamber.
