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A PUBLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SECTOR UNION SPSF GROUP - VICTORIAN BRANCH - WWW.CPSUVIC.ORG issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE PRISON PRIVATISATION NATIONAL REPORT - SEE PAGE 14 PRIVATISATION TROJAN HORSES THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A REVIEW TO PUSH FOR FURTHER PRIVATISATION OF OUR HUMAN SERVICES - SEE PAGE 6 VISIT CPSUVIC.ORG
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issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

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Page 1: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

A PUBLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONSPSF GROUP - VICTORIAN BRANCH - WWW.CPSUVIC.ORG

issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition

PUBLICPERSPECTIVE

PRISON PRIVATISATION NATIONAL REPORT

- SEE PAGE 14

PRIVATISATION TROJAN HORSES

THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A REVIEW

TO PUSH FOR FURTHER PRIVATISATION OF OUR HUMAN SERVICES

- SEE PAGE 6

VISIT CPSUVIC.ORG

Page 2: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

CONTENTS3. CADETSHIP INITIATIVE UPDATE WorkonthedevelopmentofaCadetshipProgramis

wellunderway.

4. KEEPING WORK IN-HOUSE Strengtheningourpublicsectoristhetaskdriving

Victoria’sSpecialMinisterofStateGavinJennings.

6. PRIVATISATION TROJAN HORSES TheProductivityCommissioniscurrentlyundertaking

areviewtopushforfurtherprivatisationofourhumanservices.

8. SOCIAL BONDS HAVING NO IMPACT Moreexamplesoftheconceptsfailureoverseas,as

socialbondsarerightlybeingcriticised.

10. FRED CULLEN, JOE BIDEN AND THE U.S. FLAG

TheVicePresidentialvisittoMelbournerecentlyledJoeBidenstraighttostalwartCPSULifememberFredCullenOAMaboutacertainU.S.flag.

12. 1ST CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM CENTENARY NewresearchbyRobertBollardprovidesafascinatinginsightinsideourpredecessorunion,theVictorianStateServicesFederation(VSSF)

14. PRISON PRIVATISATION Withprivatecontractorsoperatingninefacilitiesin

fivedifferentstates,Australiahasthehighestrateofprivateincarcerationpercapitaofanycountryintheworld.

PUBLICPERSPECTIVE

PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SECTOR UNION SPSF GROUP - VICTORIAN BRANCH -

WWW.CPSUVIC.ORG

WORK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CADETSHIP PROGRAM IS WELL UNDERWAY.

ArisingfromournewVictorianPublicServiceEnterpriseAgreement,theinitiativeisincludedintheServiceDeliveryPartnershipPlan(SDPP)whichfocusesonimprovingservicedeliveryandbuildingthecapabilityoftheVPS.

TheprogramisbeingdesignedtoworkasacontinuumofYEStraineeships.

ThepartnershipwillprovideyoungdisadvantagedVictorianswithanopportunitytobeplacedwithinthepublicserviceandtoreceivetrainingtowardsacquiringanewqualificationatCertificate4level.

ThecadetswouldbeemployeddirectlybyaDepartmentoragencycoveredbytheEnterpriseAgreementatGrade1level.

TheywouldthenbeenrolledintoaCertificate4inGovernmentwhichispartoftheGovernmentSkillsAustraliaApprovedTrainingpackages.

ThecertificateisrecognisedAustraliawideandwillprovideagoodbaseforthecadetsinlookingforongoingjobsinVictoriaandinterstate.Theprogramwillbeevaluatedoverthe3yearsofthepilottoensurethatthetargetoutcomesarebeingachieved.

TheunionandDEDJTRwilldevelopamentorprogramtoensureanydifficultiesthecadetsmayencountercanbeaddressedratherthanhavethemdropout.

ThisinitiativewillassistmanyyoungunemployedVictoriansintoarewardingcareerintheVictorianPublicServiceandunderpintheGovernments’jobscommitment.

CADETSHIP INITIATIVE UPDATE

2 | Public Perspective - Winter 2016 Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 3

Page 3: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

KEEPING WORK IN-HOUSE

Gavin JenningsrecentlytoldonlinemagazineTheMandarinthatGovernmentcertainlywantstobemoreconfidentintheknowledgebasecentrallyandwithinagenciessowe’llbeabletomakewiserdecisionsabouthowmuchgoesoutsideandwhowegoto.

TheGovernmentwantstobuildthecapabilitiesandskillsetsofinhousestaffwhilemovingawayfromtheexpensiverelianceonoutsourcedadvice.

Whilethepreviousgovernment’sanswertothiswastogivepreferencetooutsourcing,Jenningssays,hewouldratherbuildin-houseability.

ThemoveisseenastimelyasGovernment’sfaceanincreasinghostileelectoratetiredofexcusesforfailingpublicinfrastructureandservicesandquestionsaboutwhetherwidespreadoutsourcinghasbeenworthwhileincludingfromformerPrimeMinisterandCabinetheadTerryMoran.

LastyeartheGovernmentwonwidespreadpraisewhenitcancelledthepreviousgovernment’splanstooutsourcethestate’ssharedITservicesproviderCenITex.

Governmentstoppedthatprocesssowecouldbringitinhouseanddevelopourworkingknowledgetobeabletomakemorematuredecisionsabouthardwareandsoftwaremaintenanceregimesinthefuture,Jenningssaid.

Thegovernmentplanstosignoffonanewstrategyshortlyandpartofthesolutionwillbeskillingupexistingemployees,includingmanagers.

“Theydon’thavetobecometechnicians,theydon’thavetobecomespecialists,buttheyhavetohaveagreaterappreciationofwhatourcurrentcapabilityisandwhatoptionstheremaybeavailabletothem.

“Theyhavetohaveskilldevelopmentwithinorganisationstoliftthegeneralcapabilityacrosstheworkforce…Wehavetomakesurewehaveaworkingculturethatvaluesthatskillbaseanddevelopsitovertime”JenningstoldTheMandarin.

STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC SECTOR IS

THE TASK DRIVING VICTORIA’S SPECIAL

MINISTER OF STATE GAVIN JENNINGS.

CONSULTANCIES (SOURCE ANNUAL REPORTS)

2013/14 (excl. GST) 2014/15 (excl. GST)

DEDJTR $4.26 million DTPLI $13.23 million

DELWP $2.603 million DEPI $3.102 million

DTF $3.601 million $21.4 million

DoJR $379,998 $379,094

DET $2.040 million $5.6 million

DPC $1.025 million $1.307 million

DHS inc DOH $5.697 million $11.06 million

Vic. Police $2.612 million $2.836 million

4 | Public Perspective - Election Edition 2016 Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 5

Page 4: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

PRIVATISATION TROJAN HORSES

Casestudiesshowthattheseprivatisationattemptshaveresultedinlessaccountabilityandadiminishedqualityofservice.

TheProductivityCommissionisattemptingtoapplymarketprinciplesofcompetition,contestability,anduserchoicebasedonassumptionsthatoftendonotexistintheareaofpublicservicedelivery.

ThisProductivityCommissioninquiryunfortunatelyisafaitaccompli.

TheFederalGovernmenthasdesignedtheinquirytoproducerecommendationsforthefurtherprivatisationofpublicservices,whichwilldonothingtoimproveservicequality.

CPSUwouldwelcomeagenuinediscussionintohowwecanbetterdeliverpublicservicesthatwouldbeopentoalloptions.

Thismustincludeincreasingresourcesandfundingforservices;directcitizeninvolvementinco-designingservices;andholisticservicedeliverywhichtakesanintegrated,whole-of-governmentapproachtocomplexsocialproblems.

It’sdisappointingthattheFederalgovernmentandtheProductivityCommissionisonlyinterestedinexploringoptionsthatwilltakecontrolofpublicservicesawayfromourcommunity,andputtaxpayermoneyintothepocketsofprivateers.

Timeforarealdiscussionabouttheservicesourcommunityneeds.

THE PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A REVIEW TO PUSH FOR FURTHER PRIVATISATION OF OUR HUMAN SERVICES DESPITE WIDESPREAD EVIDENCE THAT THESE CHANGES IN PRISONS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND THE VET SECTOR HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DELIVERING BETTER SERVICES.

TheFederalGovernmentaskedtheCommissionjustpriortotherecentgeneralelectiontoundertakeaninquiryusingthelatestprivatisationbuzzwordstosetoutthetaskrequiredaslookingfor”theincreasedapplicationofcompetition,contestabilityandinformeduserchoicetohumanservices”.

‘Humanservices’aredefinedascoveringadiverserangeofpublicservices,includinghealth,education,communityservices,jobservices,socialhousing,prisons,agedcare,anddisabilityservices;howevertheinquirystatesthatthislistisnotexhaustive,andtheFederalGovernmentisalsoopentoothersuggestionsforservicesthatcouldbeprivatised!

Theinquiryispredicatedontwopoints:first,thathumanservicesneedtobeimproved,andsecond,thattheonlywaytoimproveservicedeliveryisthroughincreased‘competition,contestabilityanduserchoice’(privatisation).

Surelyagenuinediscussiononservicedeliverywouldbeginwithestablishingifpublicservicesneedtobereformed,andthenwouldcommenceadialoguewhichisopentoallideasforimprovingservices.

Itisclearfromthetermsofreferenceandtheissuespaperthatthisinquiryisnotaboutgenuinelyimprovinghumanservicedelivery–itisabouttheprivatisationofmorepublicservices.

Privatisationand‘themarket’donotdeliverbetterhumanservices.

Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 76 | Public Perspective - Winter 2016

Page 5: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

SOCIAL BONDS HAVING NO IMPACT

Ifgovernmentsthoughtthemodelwasthebees’kneesthenthey’dapplyitacrosstheirinhousedepartmentalservicedeliverypersonnelbuttheydon’tandwon’t,andthat’sthedeadgiveawayaboutthemotivation.

Thereisalreadywidespreadprivatisationofourchildprotectionresidentialcareservicestonon-governmentandfaithbasedproviderswithinexcusablelevelsofneglectaboutbasictransparencyandaccountabilitytoVictoriansabouthowandwhoisstaffingtheseprogramsandwherethemoneyisspent.

TheBondmodeljustfurtherencouragesthisracetothebottomwithlowwagesandcasualisationoftheworkforcewhobecomeentrustedwiththeresponsibilityforlookingafterourmostvulnerablecitizens.

Hardlysomethinganycaring,maturecountrywouldwishtoaspireto.

New Zealand government’s firstsocialimpactbondpilothascollapsedleavingmorethanNZ$1.5milliondollarsspentontheprojectsofar,andnothingtoshowforit.Whenessentialservices,likeLifelineinNewZealand,strugglingforfundsandfacingclosure,it’sirresponsibleforGovernment'stowastemoneybyexperimentingwithfailedfundingmodels.

‘Thefundingwouldhavebeenbetterusedbythestatetodesignanddeliverexcellentsocialservicesthatwork,’saidourNZPSAcolleagues.

Thisisyetanotherexampleoftheconceptsfailureoverseas,associalbondsarerightlybeingcriticisedastheresourcesdirectedatachievingparticularoutcomesisnotincreased.

Inrealitynosocialbondcontracthasyetbeenpaidoutanywhere.

Evidenceisshowingthatthesemedievalfinancingarrangementsjustcreatebudgetinginflexibilityanddivertmoneyfromotherprojectsasspendingcommitmentsarepushedyearsinadvance.

Themotivationofgovernmentsisshorttermcostandriskshiftinglikeallformsofprivatisation.

Resourcingresponsibilityisjustshiftedtospeculatorsandprivateerswhowantstateunderwrittenmonetaryreturnsrelyingondifficulttodefineoutcomemeasuresandweakevaluation.

ProponentsarejustconfusingPrivatisationwithPhilanthropy.

InAustralia,NewSouthWalesistriallingsocialimpactbonds,howeverthebenevolentsocietySIBtrialinthatStateisjustbusinessasusual(BAU)accordingtoouranalysisandwithasmallsampleoffamiliesandfixedcosts,theprojecthasbeenleftoveritsbudgetedcostandanylosseswillcertainlybesocialised.UnfortunatelytheSouthAustralian,QueenslandandVictoriangovernmentshaveexpressedinterestintheseshinynewtoysalso.

8 | Public Perspective - Winter 2016 Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 9

Page 6: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

FRED CULLEN, JOE BIDEN AND THE U.S. FLAG

The Vice Presidential visit to MelbournerecentlyledJoeBidenstraighttostalwartCPSULifememberFredCullenOAMaboutacertainU.S.flag.

InitiallyflownbyUSmarineswhentheylandedinGuadalcanalin1942theflaghadbeenpresentedtotheRSLin1957andfounditshomeatIvanhoeRSLwhereFredwasPresident.

FredhailedfromSheppartonandstartedworkasateacherofgrade7atAscotValeWestpublicschoolwhilestillateenagerandwasjust19whenhe‘escaped’fromhisjobasateachertovolunteerforthearmy.

Fredsaiditwasamatterofeconomicnecessitywithteacherpayandaccommodationcosts’leavinghimjust4shillingsaweektoliveonthatitwasanobrainertoenlistwithfullboardandtheArmyoffering35shillingsaweek.

FredservedinLae,theRamuValleyandMarkhamValley,allinNewGuineawiththe4thFieldRegiment,RoyalAustralianArtillery.

Fredsufferedfourboutsofdenguefeverbeforehewassenthomeinjuredonahospitalshipin1944afterhe‘duckedintime’butstilltookaJapanesesniper’sbulletthroughhishatandhead.

AsFredstilllaughs,soperhapstheideaofanobraineralmostcametofruition.

HewasinHeidelbergRepatriationHospitalfor4monthssoitwasnolightgraze.Fredgainfullyusedhistimeinhospitaltodoa2yearcorrespondencecourse(diploma)atBurnleyHorticultureCollege(rememberinghewasinhospitalforonly4months).

SubsequentlyFredwasdeclaredunfitforactiveserviceandgotajobwiththeAuditSectionoftheArmy.

Butin1947FredreturnedtotheEducationDepartment,workingintheExaminationsBranch,asFreddescribed"entombedintheTreasuryBuildings".

SotorelievethatfeelingFredundertookacommercedegreewhilestillaclerkintheAdministrativeDivisionoftheVPSgraduatingin1950.

FredstayedwiththeEducationDepartmentforsometimeandfurthereducationsawhimcompleteanArtsdegreewithmajorsinPoliticalScienceandPsychology.AndwithsuchqualificationsFredbecameastudentcounsellorforrecipientsoftheCommonwealthScholarshipSchemeandmoveduptobeinchargeoftheBranchin1958.

Thenin1961FredbecameDirectorofStaffTraininginthePremiersDepartment.In1964FredbecameDeputyHeadoftheMinesDepartmentandconcludedhispublicservicecareerin1982asHeadoftheMinesDepartment.

FredbecameaVPSAmemberin1940,aunionLifememberin1992andisourlongestservingmember.

Bitofgostillinthemanindeed.Bytheway,theU.S.silkflagwasdeterioratingabitrecently,sotheRSLIvanhoeCommitteesoughtadvicefromtheUSembassywhotookonfullrestoration,includingmountingandframing,andthiswasreturnedbyVicePresidentJoeBidentoFredCullenduringlastmonth’svisit.

10 | Public Perspective - Election Edition 2016 Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 11

Page 7: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

1ST CONSCRIPTION REFERENDUM CENTENARYNew research by Robert Bollard to be published later this year to coincide with the Centenary of Australia’s 1st Conscription Referendum provides a fascinating insight inside our predecessor union, the Victorian State Services Federation (VSSF), and our connection with the anti-conscription movement and the Australian Labor Party after the fallout following the Easter uprising in Ireland.

Public Perspective has permission to print an extract ahead of its publication.

Discontentwiththewar,mutedifnotabsentin1914and1915,wasexpressedmoreopenlyinthesecondhalfof1916,mostobviouslyinthecontextofthefirstconscriptionreferendum.

Themaingeneratorofthatdiscontentwas,ofcourse,theappallingcarnageontheWesternFront,beginningwiththefirstmajorbattleinFrancethatinvolvedtheAnzacs,FromellesinJuly1916.

Thesectariandimensiontothecrisiswasgenerated,mostobviously,bytherevoltinIrelandwhichfedintotheexistingsectariandimensionwithinAustraliansociety.Thisdimensionhaditsreflectionswithinthepublicservice.

DiscriminationagainstCatholicsincertainareasofemploymentmeantthattheywereoftenover-representedintheprofessionswheresectariandiscriminationdidn’tapply.ForcontemporaryAustraliansoneofthehardestthingstograspaboutAustraliainfirsthalfoftheTwentiethCenturywastheall-pervasivereligioussectarianism.

The“politicalcirculars”inquestionhadencouragedmembersoftheFederationtosupporttheunsuccessfuleffortsofMauriceBlackburn,theLaborMLAforEssendon,toretainhisseatinthestateelectionofNovember1917.

The“political”divisionsreferredtowerenotsimplythenormalonesbetweenLaborandTory,butasharperdivisionbetweenproandanti-conscriptioninthecontextofastateelectionheldonlyonemonthbeforethesecondconscriptionreferendumof1917.

Inthecontextofotherevidence,theunion’sdecisiontobackBlackburnappearsmorethansimplyarewardtoafriendoftheunion.Blackburnhadafterallbeenthemainagent,behindthescenes,marshallingtheparliamentaryforcestopassthelegislationin1916thatrestoredpoliticalrightstopublicservants.

Bollard’sresearchconcludesthatitwasanexpressionofagrowingdiscontentwiththewarwhich,whiletheofficialsmayhavebeenreluctanttoexpressitopenly,neverthelessisattimesvisiblebeneaththeveneerofpatriotismintheunion’sjournal.

TherebellioninIreland,beginninginEaster1916,andtakingplaceinthecontextofthewar,broughtthissectariantensionintosharprelief.

ThecaseofArthurCalwell,thefutureleaderoftheLaborParty,isrevealing.CalwellnotesinhisautobiographythatitwasalmostimpossibleforCatholicstogainemploymentasbankclerks.Bycontrast,foryoungCatholicmen,thefactthatentrytothePublicServicewasviaanexammadeitanattractiveoption.Calwell,whowouldserveasSecretaryoftheStateServicesFederationinthe1920s,wasduringthewar,ajuniorclerkintheAgricultureDepartment.

Calwell’sreactiontotheeventsof1916isfamous.

Aninvestigationoftheunionduringthewarrevealsthedisastrouseffectofthewar–notmerelythecasualties(wellover700fromtheranksofthestatepublicserviceitself)butthecollapseinlivingstandards.

Thisiswhatisrevealedmostofallintheunion’sjournal,wheretheearlypatrioticflushofenthusiasm,whilstneverentirelydrownedout,isincreasinglycrowdedoutbycomplaintsaboutwages.

Afactorwithconnectingthepainfeltduetothefallinwagesandgrowingwarwearinesswastheenormouspressureonpublicservantstomake“voluntary”contributionstothewareffort.Theunionitselfhaditsownpatrioticfundin1915.

Itwasn’tuntilMarch1918thattheMelbournepresscarriedaseriesofreportsregardingasplitthathadoccurredintheVictorianStateServicesFederationthatprovidefurtherinsightandinthewordsofonenewspaper.

"become detached owing to a difference of opinion concerning the distribution of political circulars during the State election campaign in November, to establish a new federation. The promoters of this movement state their aim is to create a body without political or sectarian views."

Public Perspective -Winter 2016 | 1312 | Public Perspective - Winter 2016

Page 8: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

PRISON PRIVATISATION NATIONAL REPORT

GambierismanagedusingacombinationofresourcesprovidedbyaprivatecontractorandtheDCSandthereisnoevidencetosuggestthehybridmodeloperatinginSouthAustraliaiscosteffective.

VictoriawasthefourthstateinAustraliatohaveprivatelymanagedprisons,followingQueensland,NewSouthWalesandSouthAustraliaandisunusualinAustraliainthattheoriginalprivatisationsin1996didnotoccurinacontextofrisinglevelsofincarceration.

ThemostrecentdataavailablefromtheProductivityCommissionshowthatthetotalnetexpenditureandcapitalcostsofVictorianprisonswas$527millionin2015.TheVictorianbudgetforprisonsandcorrectiveserviceswas$815.7millionforthesameyearhowever;neithersourcegivesabreakdownofcostsintopublicandprivatecomponentsofthecustodialsystem.

ThecostoftheVictorianprisonsystemhasrisendrasticallyinrecentyears,inlinewiththegrowthoftheprisonpopulation.

AUSTRALIA NOW IMPRISONS MORE PEOPLE THAN AT ANY POINT IN ITS HISTORY.

36,134peoplewereincarceratedacrosseightstatesasofJune2015,andprivatelyrunprisonsincarcerate18.5%ofAustralia’sprisonpopulationandclearlyplayalargepartinthefunctioningofourcustodialsystemanewUniversityofSydneyReporthasfound.

Infact,Australiahasthehighestrateofprivateincarcerationpercapitaofanycountryintheworld.

Privatecontractorsoperateninefacilitiesinfivedifferentstates:twoprisonsinQueensland,twoinNewSouthWales,oneinSouthAustralia,twoinVictoriaandtwoinWesternAustralia.

Tasmania,theAustralianCapitalTerritoryandtheNorthernTerritorydonotyethaveprivateprisons.

TheGEOGroup(GEO),G4SandSercoarethethreeprivateprisoncontractorswhoarenowresponsibleforover6,000Australianprisonersandabsorbaconsiderableamountoftaxpayermoneynationally.

Despitethis,researchintoprivateprisonsinAustraliaisextremelylimited.

QueenslandshowcasesmanyoftheworstaspectsofAustralia’sexperiencewithprisonprivatisation.Asthefirststatetoprivatisethemanagementofacustodialfacility,Queenslandencounteredmanyproblemsassociatedwithpoorcontractdesign,poorplanningandinadequateregulatoryoversight.

Manyoftheseproblemscontinuetoday,some27yearsafterthefirstfacilityopened.Intermsofcosts,Queenslandprovidessuchlittleinformationtothepublicthatitisimpossibletoassessthecostofprivateprisons.

ManyoftheproblemsassociatedwithprisonprivatisationinQueenslandaremirroredinNewSouthWales.SuccessiveNewSouthWalesgovernmentshaveheldtheviewthatthecommercialsensitivitiesassociatedwithprivateprisoncontractsnecessitateconfidentialityandthesecommercial-in-confidenceprotectionshavelimitedthescopeofpublicoversight.

South Australiafailedtointroducestatelegislationthatspecificallyaddressestheuseofprivateproviders,makingthestate’sexperienceofprisonprivatisationunique.Asaconsequence,Mount

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Page 9: issue 3 | volume 28 | winter edition PUBLIC · towards acquiring a new qualification at Certificate 4 level. The cadets would be employed directly by a Department or agency covered

PRISON PRIVATISATION: CONTINUED

Thetotalbudgetforcustodialserviceswas$408millionin2005–2006,comparedto$815.7millionin2013–2014.

WhileVictoriahasthehighestproportionofinmatesheldinprivateprisonsinanystateinAustralia,itisthemostdifficulttoassessintermsofaccountability,costsandperformance.

TheVictoriangovernmentiscurrentlybuildinganew1,000-bedprivateprisonatRavenhall.GEOisresponsiblefordesign,construction,financing,maintenanceandoperations(includingcustodialservices).

ForthefirsttimeinAustralia,thecontractincludesincentivepaymentsforreductionsinreoffendingbutgiventhecomplexityofpost-releaseissues,andtheintegrationofpublicwithprivatelyrunfacilities,howthiswillworkinpracticeisunknown.

ItappearsthatperprisonercostsinVictoriahasrisendespitetheincreasedrelianceonprivatecontractors.

Western AustraliarepresentsthemostsophisticatedexampleofprisonprivatisationinAustralia,usingtheservicesoftwoprivateprisonstomanageafairlydramaticriseinprisoninmatesoverthelast20years.

AdvocatesforprivatisationoftenrefertoAcaciaasanexampleofhowprivateproviderscandeliverperformanceimprovementsandinnovationsbutoverlookAcaciaPrisonhousingonlymedium-securityprisoners,takespartinnoremandactivity,andoccupiesmodernfacilitiesthatarethelargestinAustralia.

Inaddition,mostcostreductionsassociatedwithprivateprisonsareachievedthroughreductionsinstaffinglevelsandexperiencewhichovertime,(OICS-WA,2015),produceperformancerelatedproblems.

AllstatesinAustraliaareunderpressuretoprovideinfrastructureforagreaternumberofprisonerswhilstbudgetconstraintsremaintightandthisfuelsdebateaboutfutureprisonprivatisation.

Inordertoestablishtheimpactofprivatisationonthecustodialsystem,arangeofcostandperformancedatamustbemadeavailablebythosestateswithprivateprisons.

Agenuinecomparisonintermsofperformance,costandefficiencywillonlybepossibleonceallprivateprisonsaresubjecttosimilarlevelsofpublicaccountability,andthiswillrequireagenuinecommitmenttoevidence-basedprisonpolicyreform.

16 | Public Perspective - Winter 2016