Acacia Prison contract to be put to tender

19/07/05
The contract to manage the State's largest prison, Acacia Prison, will be put to tender.
Justice Minister John D'Orazio said the $25.5million private management agreement, currently held by Australian Integration Management Services Corporation (AIMS), was due to expire in May 2006.
Mr D'Orazio said the decision to test the market aimed to ensure better service quality at the prison.
"The market is much more competitive than it was four years ago when the tender was originally let," he said.
"Acacia is one of seven privately run correctional centres in Australia, but is the only one operated by AIMS.
"Private tenders will be compared against the cost of operating the prison within the public sector."
The Minister said managing the State's first private prison contract had been a steep learning curve for both Government and AIMS.
He said AIMS performance had been mixed, with the corporation docked more than $600,000 for not meeting performance measures in the past four years.
These had included higher positive drug test results and lower education standards and prisoner employment than outlined in the contract.
"The Government originally intended a new private arrangement to set the benchmark in management and innovative correctional operations in WA, but that has not occurred," Mr D'Orazio said.
"Acacia Prison has not reached the original standards sought, but it has introduced some useful ideas into our prison system.
"A review by Corrections Victoria in 2004 found shortfalls in staff recruitment, prisoner employment, prison industry activity, security management and drug deterrence.
"However, Acacia Prison has made significant improvements in the past 18 months. It has a lower proportion of self-harm incidents and has not recorded any significant incidents or escapes in four years."
The Minister said AIMS would be invited to submit a tender.
He said Acacia Prison employed some 164 correctional staff and accommodated close to 750 prisoners.
Minister's office: 9213 7150