Prison expansion and privatisation in Queensland

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Megan Rodaughan
C/- Michael Berkman MP
PO Box 423
Total Signatures - 1,083
Sponsoring Member: Mr Michael Berkman MP
Posting Date: 19/9/2018
Closing Date: 12/10/2018
Tabled Date: 16/10/2018
Responded By: Hon Mark Ryan MP on 16/11/2018
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the State Government's unprecedented and disappointing decision to open a new private women's prison in Queensland, operated by Serco, by converting Southern Queensland Correctional Centre from a men's prison to a women's prison. This is the first time in Queensland's history that women are being imprisoned in a privately-operated prison and adds over 300 cells for women across the State.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

  1. Call for Southern Queensland Correctional Centre to be returned to public operation immediately.
  2. Commit to a moratorium on prison expansion in Queensland (including a commitment to stop all current or planned construction of new cells and new prisons).
  3. Call on the Government to immediately implement and fund strategies to reduce the number of adults and children in Queensland prisons.