McLellan TraceyDr TRACEY McLELLAN (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker for the chance to say a few words about this Parole (Mandatory Completion of Rehabilitative Programmes) Amendment Bill. I'm not going to take quite so long as the member who's has just resumed his seat Cameron Brewer unfortunately—unfortunately—and I know that pains you; I know.Hon Andrew Bayly: Come on!Dr TRACEY McLELLAN: I know Mr Bayly—I know Mr Bayly—I know it's a disappointment to you.But I do want to start my contribution by acknowledging the member Todd Stephenson and I don't think that the member would mind me also saying that I would like to acknowledge Toni Severin the member whose name this bill used to be under because I know that despite the fact that you were the lucky one that had it drawn from the tin this was something that she was incredibly passionate about and had done a lot of work on. So I acknowledge Toni for her work.The bill as has been said makes it mandatory for prisoners to complete rehabilitation programmes before they can be considered for parole. This change would better support their endeavours to then gain employment post-prison which is obviously a good thing.So let me put the member Todd Stephenson out of his misery—which is not to suggest that he's miserable; he's quite a jovial person I've always found—and say that Labour will be supporting this bill to the select committee. [Applause] Aw gosh! But why are we going to support this bill? In all seriousness we're going to support this bill because it actually is congruent with Labour's work to support people into work and to support people into work through gaining those skills that they need and gaining that development and supporting people through a rehabilitation process because that's a really major factor in reducing reoffending. And so we agree with you on that.The proof of the bill will be in the pudding as well and I do have to raise a couple of caveats. Corrections funds rehabilitation and prison-educated programmes as the member will know. And with 6.5 percent cuts looming over the service I don't think it's unreasonable for us to say that we certainly have some concerns as to how these pathways will continue to be funded sufficiently to support prisoners to be considered for parole because it's incredibly important that that process isn't unduly interrupted.In the briefing to the incoming Minister in 2023 Corrections stated that they have faced some pressures retaining and recruiting staff and I don't think that's a situation that we're unaware of. These pressures have impacts on the provision of those services in prisons including access to rehabilitation and education programmes and training.Corrections has also noted that the capacity of prisons depends on both physical capacity and also staffing capacity to ensure those appropriate ratios are in place. So with prisoners having to complete rehabilitative programmes prior to parole and challenges to those sorts of staffing resources we do have to pose the question: will appropriate ratios be in place to increase the delivery of rehabilitation programmes? So that is something that we will—as I said we're happy to support this through to select committee; that is the appropriate place to pose those questions to gather information about that and to pose those potential risks and follow through.So given these challenges to resources I think it's fair to say we have some concerns that parole could be denied due to Corrections resources rather than just the merits of the parole application. But we are keen to learn more and for that reason we commend this bill to the House.