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.