The ACT Government’s management of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and its detainees is “a shambles”, the Canberra Liberals claim, after one prisoner escaped and another was mistakenly released in the last fortnight.
Elizabeth Kikkert, Shadow Minister for Corrections, called for an investigation into these incidents, and for transparency from the government.
Attempted escape
On 9 July, in what police called “a brazen attack”, Lila Rose Mary Walto allegedly stole a Jeep and rammed the ACT Corrective Services transport vehicle taking prisoner Kane Quinn to a hospital appointment, injuring officers. Quinn and Walto were apprehended that evening, and will appear before the ACT Magistrates Court in August.
But questions have been raised over why a Toyota Camry was used to transport Quinn. Eight months ago, the Inspector of Correctional Services called the mid-sized family car, bought in 2020, “unsuitable as a general-use escort vehicle” (Review of ACT Corrective Services Court Transport Unit 2020), while officers described it as “unfit for purpose”. The Inspector recommended the Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACS) review ACT Corrective Services’ acquisition of Court Transport Unit vehicles.
Mrs Kikkert insisted Mick Gentleman, Minister for Corrections, had to explain why he ignored the Inspector’s findings.
“I don’t expect the Minister to reveal details that would undermine the security of the prison or the safety of corrections officers,” Mrs Kikkert said. “What the Minister has done, however, is throw a blanket of secrecy over the entire incident and give almost no substantial details.”
Mr Gentleman said that after reviewing transport arrangements and the type of vehicles used, Camrys would now only be used for detainee transportation in exceptional circumstances.
“The safety and wellbeing of corrections officers is my priority, and I expect senior management to listen to and address staff concerns.”
A JACS spokesperson said that ACT Corrections had undertaken an internal review, and the matter had been referred to the Inspector of Correctional Services as a critical incident. Their report will be tabled in the Assembly.
Following the Inspector’s November report, ACT Corrective Services had implemented, updated, and improved procurement procedures for court transport vehicles.
The Inspector of Correctional Services noted that the government had agreed to 20 of their recommendations, including the recommendation relating to acquisition of vehicles. ICS will verify their implementation over coming months.
Prisoner released
Last week, Cody Damien Herceg was mistakenly released from prison – possibly because his prison sentence for one offence had expired, although he still faced other charges. Ordered by a magistrate to hand himself in, Herceg reportedly said he would “try” to do so as soon as possible.
“Is the Minister in charge here or not?” Mrs Kikkert asked. “An investigation must be conducted to look into how this happened, and how it was only by dumb luck and a chance discussion between two lawyers [prosecutor and defence] that the detainee’s premature release came to light.”
A JACS spokesperson said Herceg’s release was “an unfortunate error”; a review was underway.
“Detainees can often be serving a sentence following a conviction, while also being on remand for separate offences before either the Magistrates Court and/or the Supreme Court. Information about detainees is held in an electronic database which contains many different files. Current release processes require manual checks across each of these files. Due to human error, information in relation to the detainee being on remand was missed while assessing his release.”
Police patrols are keeping a lookout for Herceg; if they locate him, they will return him to court, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
Mr Gentleman “cannot continue his habit of secrecy,” Mrs Kikkert said. “He must come clean on the circumstances that allowed both these incidents to occur or risk being seen even more as an absent minister.”
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