Vic: Bracks overrules minister on prisons funding.

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2001
Vic: Bracks overrules minister on prisons funding.

Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS has overruled his Corrections Minister ANDRE HAERMEYER
on funding for a major increase in prison beds.

Mr BRACKS says the government is considering building two new high-security prisons
as part of its corrective services master plan.

Mr HAERMEYER told reporters yesterday that the government might seek private-sector
assistance in funding and constructing the proposed prisons.

But Mr BRACKS later rejected the idea, saying prisons are a public responsibility.

According to a media reports, a 600-bed maximum-security remand centre and a 300-bed
medium security jail are to be built to house the state's growing prison population.

AAP RTV pj/gfr/cd/wjf/rt

KEYWORD: PRISONS (MELBOURNE)

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