Liberal MLA Elizabeth Kikkert, Shadow Minister for Corrections, will today introduce an amendment bill to prevent people using drones to deliver prohibited items – drugs, weapons, and mobile phones – to the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).

The amendments will make it illegal to cause a prohibited item to be taken into a correctional centre or given to a detainee.

Mrs Kikkert said as written, existing law does not clearly capture using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to fly over the AMC and remotely drop something inside.

“These changes will make it easier to prosecute anyone who tries to deliver banned items into our prison,” Mrs Kikkert said.

Incidents of RPAs being used to deliver prohibited things into correctional facilities had increased rapidly, she argued. In the ACT, there were at least two attempts to deliver contraband into the AMC using RPAs, while Corrections Victoria reported 96 incidents at their prisons from March to early November last year.

“This is a rapidly emerging problem, and the Territory must adapt,” Mrs Kikkert said.

Other jurisdictions struggled with solutions because the Commonwealth controls the use of airspace. Mrs Kikkert said her bill avoided any conflicts with Federal legislation by not attempting to restrict the airspace.

Drugs, weapons, mobile phones, and contraband items smuggled into the AMC contribute to the black market, Mrs Kikkert said.

“They are used for barter and often contribute to violence between detainees.

“Reducing the entry of drugs into the prison will increase detainee health whilst contributing to education and rehabilitation outcomes.”

Mrs Kikkert said she consulted the Commonwealth Government, community groups, and people working in corrections, and their feedback was positive.