The leader of the Queensland Party has accused Townsville's prisons of being akin to "holiday camps" and has called for prisoners to be subject to "tough love" regime.
Aidan McLindon spoke to Parliament this week about his visits to Townsville's prisons, where he discovered that prisoners were being treated to air conditioning, access to medical attention and 24/7 electricity. And if this wasn't bad enough, McLindon claims to have seen "stockpiles of pornos" littering both the men's and women's facilities, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report. All of which he believes is responsible for the "70 per cent re-offending rate in Townsville."
According to McLindon "these prisoners are laughing all the way to the holiday camp at the expense of taxpayers" and he has a few ideas about how to change this. Instead of air con, he thinks prisoners should have to make do with a fan, an open window (which may not help with the re-offending rates) and an extra blanket (which may not help with the heat). Plus they should be forced to join lists and wait for their medical care.
Not everyone agrees, howegver, and McLindon's accusations were rejected by Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts, who confirmed that pornography is banned from the State's prisons, adding "we would hope that if Mr McLindon in fact saw what he claims to have seen that he would have come forward and reported it." Roberts also claimed that the Townsville re-offending rate was 33.5%, less than half that forwarded by McLindon.
Somewhat taking the wind out of McLindon's sails, he then circulated a letter McLindon had written to him after his prison visit encouraging him to "keep up the great work you are doing". At which point Labor MP Robert Schwarten weighed in to shout at McLindon, "Is there a bigger dill in the world than you?"
Tip Off ROF
Aidan McLindon spoke to Parliament this week about his visits to Townsville's prisons, where he discovered that prisoners were being treated to air conditioning, access to medical attention and 24/7 electricity. And if this wasn't bad enough, McLindon claims to have seen "stockpiles of pornos" littering both the men's and women's facilities, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report. All of which he believes is responsible for the "70 per cent re-offending rate in Townsville."
According to McLindon "these prisoners are laughing all the way to the holiday camp at the expense of taxpayers" and he has a few ideas about how to change this. Instead of air con, he thinks prisoners should have to make do with a fan, an open window (which may not help with the re-offending rates) and an extra blanket (which may not help with the heat). Plus they should be forced to join lists and wait for their medical care.
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| How jail calls should really look |
A Townsville jail cell yesterday (artist's impression) |
Not everyone agrees, howegver, and McLindon's accusations were rejected by Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts, who confirmed that pornography is banned from the State's prisons, adding "we would hope that if Mr McLindon in fact saw what he claims to have seen that he would have come forward and reported it." Roberts also claimed that the Townsville re-offending rate was 33.5%, less than half that forwarded by McLindon.
Somewhat taking the wind out of McLindon's sails, he then circulated a letter McLindon had written to him after his prison visit encouraging him to "keep up the great work you are doing". At which point Labor MP Robert Schwarten weighed in to shout at McLindon, "Is there a bigger dill in the world than you?"