Shelton in the clear on prison site says corrections minister

By Sharon Webb

THE STATE Government

maintains Lyons Liberal Mark Shelton was not involved in the selection of the Westbury site for the proposed Northern Regional Prison. Corrections Minister Elise Archer said that Mr Shelton had not been involved with the site selection panel in any way, nor had he been involved in discussions or decisions on the site of the proposed prison. Her comments come after the Labor Opposition accused Mr Shelton of dodging questions of conflict of interest in Parliament in early March. Labor Member for Lyons, Jen Butler, said Mark Shelton must come clean with Tasmanians because as Meander Valley mayor he negotiated a $700,000 loan agreement with the owners of the preferred northern prison site on Birralee Road. ‘Mark Shelton has intimate knowledge of this matter and must have been aware as a cabinet minister of his responsibility to identify a conflict of interest and exempt himself from Cabinet decision making,’ she said. ‘Mark Shelton owes it to all Tasmanians to clarify whether or not he declared a conflict of interest regarding decisions on the location of the northern prison site – his failure to do so can only mean one thing. ‘The site for the proposed maximum security prison has caused incredible distress for the Westbury community and the Liberals lack of transparency about the issue is disgraceful. ‘The question is simple: did Mark Shelton declare a conflict of interest or didn’t he?’ Both Labor and Westbury Residents against the Prison (WRAP) argue Mr Shelton is compromised because as mayor he signed a deed of agreement for the council to develop an industry precinct on land earmarked in 2019 as the preferred location for a northern prison. They maintain a deed of agreement was signed by landowners Glen Avon Farms with the understanding the council would establish infrastructure in return for future payment. Glen Avon Farms are now $700,000 in debt to the council. But Ms Archer maintains Mr Shelton had no input into the siting of the prison and therefore is not compromised. President of WRAP, Linda Poulton, said that even if Mr Shelton did not identify the site, he should not have taken part in Cabinet discussions on the prison. ‘WRAP believes he should have declared a conflict of interest when the issue came up for discussion in Cabinet,’ she said. The Northern Regional Prison Siting Panel included: • Nick Evans, deputy secretary, corrections and regulation, Justice Dept • Ian Thomas, director of prisons, Justice Dept • Gary Hancl, director, strategic infrastructure Projects, Justice Dept • Michael Stevens, independent • Glenn Frame / Richard Cowling, assistant commissioner, Tasmania Police • Alison Turner, director, infrastructure review and evaluation, State Growth Dept • Denise McIntyre, manager network planning, State Growth Dept • Barry Nicholson, nursing director, group director, forensic, correctional health and alcohol and drug services, Tasmanian Health Service • Brian Risby, director, planning policy unit, Justice Dept.