Minister tours Greenough Regional Prison

12/5/95

Assisting Justice Minister Kevin Minson made his first official visit to a prison in his new role today.

Mr Minson toured the Greenough Regional Prison which will shortly undergo an extensive building program which will provide an additional 52 beds in a new, medium security living unit.

This includes 20 self-care beds.

The prison was opened in 1984 to replace the historic Geraldton Prison which was a hospital before becoming a prison. It has now been restored as a tourist centre.

Situated 15 km south of the City of Geraldton, Greenough Regional Prison was originally designed as a low-medium security prison with a total capacity of 139.

The majority of prisoners were rated low-medium or minimum security.

Mr Minson said a small number of maximum or medium security prisoners were housed in a specifically constructed security unit within the confines of the prison.

"The prison was upgraded in 1990 to its current medium security status which required upgrading the perimeter security and installing detection equipment and surveillance cameras," Mr Minson said.

"This next program will increase the prison's capacity on completion and will include further security and communications upgrading."

The Minister said the facility also catered for women prisoners.

"At present there is the capacity to also house women prisoners with very young children in two units specifically constructed to house mothers and their babies," he said.

"Following this latest upgrading, the prison will be one of the most modern in country Western Australia."

The process of delegating and transferring responsibility in a number of areas to Mr Minson is now complete.

As a result, Mr Minson is responsible for a wide range of Ministerial functions under the following legislation:

Prisons Act 1981;

Prisoners (Interstate Transfer) Act 1983;

Fines Penalties and Infringement Notices Enforcement Act 1994;

Changes of Names Regulations Act 1923;

Registration of Births Deaths and Marriages Act 1961;

Registration of Identity of Persons Act 1975;

Reprints Act 1984;

Criminal injuries Compensation Act 1985;

Charitable Collections Act 1946;

Street Collections (Regulations) Act 1940

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy  015 083 526