The first phase of the CLP Government's Corrections Infrastructure Plan commences this week, with an initial group of youth detainees scheduled to be relocated from Don Dale at Berrimah to the Holtze Youth Detention Centre, and the new Centre set to be fully operational by early next week.
This transition marks the beginning of the CLP Government's three-step infrastructure plan which aims to deliver immediate relief to overcrowded prisons, provide long-term infrastructure solutions, and prioritise rehabilitation.
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said the first tranche involves the transfer of youth detainees to the Holtze Youth Detention Centre, which will immediately free up 50 beds for low-security males at Berrimah.
Currently, Mr Maley is inspecting correctional and youth justice facilities in Alice Springs and the Barkly region.
"Amid the ongoing Corrections crisis, I wanted a first-hand look at the situation and this week I am visiting the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre, Paperbark alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility, the new Residential Youth Justice Barkly facility, and Barkly work camp," he said.
Mr Maley added: "I again want to express my appreciation and support for the dedicated staff at the facilities I have visited, and all personnel in correctional, youth justice and rehabilitation centres across the Territory. You are doing important work in difficult circumstances.""
"We have asked a lot of our corrections officers and the entire Territory thanks and support them.
Just eight weeks after coming to office, the CLP Government worked with Corrections Commissioner Varley to finalise the Corrections Infrastructure Masterplan and this week work on the first tranche gets underway.
The CLP Government was elected on a platform of reducing crime, and urgently addressing the challenges within Corrections and breaking the cycle of repeat offending is a critical part of that commitment.
"Labor's ideology-driven poor law and order policies have resulted in record high crime levels. It's painfully obvious the Territory needed bigger prisons and new corrections infrastructure years ago, but Labor had its priorities all wrong," said Mr Maley.
"We are getting on with the job and addressing challenges created by eight years of Labor neglect," he added.
Northern Territory Government
