Today, the Allan Labor Government officially opened the new Western Plains Prison, spending a staggering $1.1 billion yet still failing to provide enough prison beds to meet demand amid a worsening crime crisis.
Labor's desperate cash splash has backfired. Their so-called solution is delivering a net loss in prison bed numbers.
Labor plans to shut down Port Phillip Prison, which has a total capacity of 1,117 beds, and replace it with Western Plains. This move will result in a loss of between 300 and 600 beds - a significant cut to prison capacity at a time when crime is on the rise. This comes on top of the 450 beds already out of action at Barwon Prison due to toxic mould.
The toxic mould issue was revealed during the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings. Incredibly, despite spending $727 million, the Government has allocated no funding to fix the problem.
To make matters worse, the Government has been forced to keep the Port Phillip Prison Hospital open just to support the new Western Plains facility.
Shadow Minister for Corrections, David Southwick said: "If taxpayers needed further proof that Labor is poor at managing money, spending $1.1 billion on a new prison that actually reduces overall capacity once the old facility is closed - especially at a time when more beds are needed, is a clear sign of incompetence."
"No matter how Labor tries to spin this, they've crippled our correctional capacity, and more serious offenders will be back on the streets because of it."
"After more than a decade in government, Labor still can't manage money, and Victorians are paying the price."
