26 September 2023

Prison industries to go for hard sell

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The Department of Justice has invited the private sector to work with State’s jails, prison farms and work camps on a range of profitable initiatives

The Department has issued a Problem and Opportunity Statement encouraging innovative solutions to help stimulate the State’s economy as it recovers.

Explaining the program the Department said opportunities for working with Western Australia’s prisons, work camps and prison farms could include investments in infrastructure, equipment and facilities to increase the efficiency, productivity, safety and profitability of existing prison industries.

“This could include recycling of waste products; provision of facilities management/maintenance; product assembly and disassembly, or pre-fabrication/construction (demountable buildings and structures) among others,” the Department said.

“The Department will work with respondents on any issues of competitiveness and how proposed solutions and initiatives would work within the legislative framework for prison operations.”

Minister for Corrective Services, Francis Logan said the program was an opportunity for the private sector to leverage off the existing industries in the State’s prisons, work camps and prison farms or to create new innovations that would help stimulate the economy.

“Prison industries have been in place for some time now so the Department is aware of issues over competitiveness and security issues,” Mr Logan said.

“Putting prisoners to work or providing new skills has shown repeatedly that it can change lives and turn previous offenders into contributing members of our society on release.”

He said many in the private sector would be surprised at the current level of prison industries and what could be achieved with some innovative thinking.

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