496 (2026). Tamatha Paul to the Minister of Corrections

496 (2026). Tamatha Paul to the Minister of Corrections: In regard to the 24% increase of incarcerated women between September 2024 - September 2025, was Corrections resourced, staffed, and designed to safely absorb a quarter-increase in women prisoners?

Hon Mark Mitchell: Corrections has significant experience and expertise when managing projected or actual increases in the prison population. In the past few years, Corrections has worked hard to expand accommodation in response to the growing prison population, and have the capacity needed to manage population pressures safely. I am advised that Corrections’ staffing levels remain proportional to the prison population, following the launch of their recruitment campaign in February 2024, Corrections has hired an additional 1,521 full-time equivalent staff, including 922 additional corrections officers. I am further advised that Corrections considers the demographics of the prison population in planning service provision and resourcing across the network.