City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin and CEO Andrew Meddle joined Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and District Council of Grant Deputy Mayor Gill Clayfield and acting CEO Jane Fetherstonhaugh for a meeting with Minister for Correctional Services Corey Wingard. The meeting was held in Adelaide on Tuesday 10 September 2019 to discuss ongoing concerns around the release of prisoners into the Mount Gambier community.
“It was a productive meeting to ensure better outcomes for the Mount Gambier community and region,” City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said.
Mayor Martin was also impressed with the information provided by the Department of Corrections, in response to questions raised by Council.
I believe all parties left the meeting feeling confident that the Minister and Department of Correctional Services will work to improve the current arrangements that are in place for ‘unplanned releases’ and which appear to be the major issue at the present time.
– Mayor Lynette Martin OAM
The City of Mount Gambier thanks the Minister for Correctional Services Mr Corey Wingard, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, and CEO Department of Correctional Services Mr David Brown for meeting with Mount Gambier representatives to work towards a solution to this perceived problem to maintain ongoing community safety.
The meeting followed a resolution from the August Council meeting requesting CEO Andrew Meddle to write to Minister Wingard conveying disappointment and concern at the release of prison inmates from the Mount Gambier prison directly into the Mount Gambier community. Council also resolved to lodge a Freedom of Information application seeking information relating to the number of prisoner releases into the community and the types of crimes committed.
Read the full release from Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell MP here.
