Committee considering sex laws should look at situation in prisons – Nicholson
JUSTICE Minister A J Nicholson says the Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament, currently reviewing the sexual offences laws, should look at the situation in the prisons, where there have been reports of molestation of inmates.
Senator Nicholson was speaking in the Senate on Thursday, in response to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition Business Anthony Johnson, about government’s response to recent reports of sexual abuse in the prisons.
Following an update from Senator Nicholson on the proceedings of the committee which is looking at proposals to amend the Incest (Punishment) and Offences Against the Person Acts, Senator Johnson asked the minister what was happening with respect to the conditions in the prisons and in respect to reported incidents of sexual abuse.
Nicholson, in response, said: “The committee realises that there are other attendant matters that must be taken into account in the implementation of these pieces of legislation.
“As to what is happening in the prisons, that is one of the things that I intend to suggest to the committee that they enquire into, because there are allegations, reports of these things happening and, if we are dealing with a sexual offences bill, it can’t be that you are going to consider matters to do with the combined disabilities association, matters to deal with girls, matters to deal with women and boys and not consider such an important institution as our prisons.”
The justice minister said that he had intended to ask the committee to look into the matter, and that Senator Johnson’s question had strengthened his resolve in doing so.
However, Senator Johnson said he wanted to know whether the Cabinet had taken a decision on the issue.”These things relate to people who, right now, are in fear of their lives,” the opposition senator said.
Senator Nicholson said he understood the importance of the issue, but he did not have the answer, but promised to provide the Senate with a response at a later date.
Thursday’s meeting was the final for the Senate for 2006/2007, so the issue will have to await its next meeting following Thursday’s opening of the new session of Parliament.
The Observer first reported on February 4 the story of a prisoner who became infected with HIV/AIDS after he was buggered repeatedly by other inmates.
