Brad Hazzard med rel: FROM PRISON PADDOCKS TO PRISONERS PLATES

Prisoners in NSW are slashing their grocery bill by growing, farming and processing much of their own food, saving tax payers millions of dollars.

“Last financial year prisoners grew over a million apples, made one-and-a-half million loaves of bread and produced almost one-and-a-half million litres of milk through the dairy,” NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice Brad Hazzard said.

“Not only does this self-sufficiency save tax payers millions of dollars, prisoners gain valuable on-the-job skills and qualifications which make them more employable when they are released.

“Having a job improves lift their reintegration into society and lowers the risk of reoffending.”

Food produced by prisoners in the 2012-13 financial year:
– Almost 129, 000 kilograms of fresh beef product
– More than 338,000 kilograms of processed vegetables
– About 1.3 million apples
– More than 1.4 million litres of fresh milk
– More than 1 million pies and sausage rolls
– 1.5 million loaves of bread

“In 2012-13 the program, which involved more than 500 prison workers, saved taxpayers more than $4 million – at the end of the current financial year it will save up to $6 million by further reducing reliance on external sources.”

“I am pleased to announce that the NSW Government is also committing $6 million in minor works funding for a new, modern central kitchen facility at John Morony Correctional Complex,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This commercial scale kitchen will produce food for correctional centres across NSW – this centralisation and other related efficiencies will save taxpayers an extra $1.5 million a year while providing improved work training,” he said.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said that in addition to gaining-on-the-job experience many prisoners also complete food-related short courses and traineeships.

“Last year almost 600 prisoners completed food-related short courses including in hygiene and food handling, hospitality, horticulture and agriculture,” Mr Severin said.