❓ Hon Norman Moore questions the Attorney General about the discrepancy between reduced prisoner numbers and expected cost savings in the WA prison system. The Attorney General explains that savings are offset by increased asset costs due to capital works and new accounting practices.
AnsweredQoN 230Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In response to question on notice No. 906, in the Legislative Assembly, dated September 11 2001, the Attorney General indicated that the annual cost per adult prisoner was approximately $70 000. On May 29 2002, in the Estimates Committee, the Attorney General indicated that the number of adult prisoners had fallen from some 3 200 under the previous Government to 2 765 as at that time.
Since the prisoner numbers have declined by approximately 400 under this Government, can the Attorney General explain what has happened to the expected cost saving of some $28 million based on your cost estimates?
Since the prisoner numbers have declined by approximately 400 under this Government, can the Attorney General explain what has happened to the expected cost saving of some $28 million based on your cost estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
5 November 2002
Responded by
Minister for Racing and Gaming representing the Attorney General
Response time
19 days
Prison system operating costs, before asset charges, have reduced by $20 million over the two years to 2002/03. Costs will be reduced by a further $11 million in 2003/04 and $16million in 2004/05, a total of $47million over four years. These cost adjustments do not include funded provisions for salary and wage increases, inflation cost adjustments for other operating costs for the new Acacia Prison. Asset costs, (depreciation and capital user charges) will increase over the same period as a result of additional prison capital works, including the construction of Acacia prison and major upgrade programs at Hakea prison and Bandyup, and the introduction of a Capital User Charge in 2001/02. Depreciation and capital user charge are brought to account as operating costs. For 2001/02 depreciation costs for prisons building infrastructure was $14 million and the capital user charge was $26 million.
Asset costs, (depreciation and capital user charges) will increase over the same period as a result of additional prison capital works, including the construction of Acacia prison and major upgrade programs at Hakea prison and Bandyup, and the introduction of a Capital User Charge in 2001/02. Depreciation and capital user charge are brought to account as operating costs. For 2001/02 depreciation costs for prisons building infrastructure was $14 million and the capital user charge was $26 million.
Asset costs, (depreciation and capital user charges) will increase over the same period as a result of additional prison capital works, including the construction of Acacia prison and major upgrade programs at Hakea prison and Bandyup, and the introduction of a Capital User Charge in 2001/02. Depreciation and capital user charge are brought to account as operating costs. For 2001/02 depreciation costs for prisons building infrastructure was $14 million and the capital user charge was $26 million.
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