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Premier Peter Malinauskas is resisting pressure to ban transgender women from female prisons in South Australia, labelling it a “niche issue” behind reducing reoffending and indigenous incarceration rates.
The Northern Territory this week became the first Australian jurisdiction to prevent transgender women being detained in female prisons and Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has challenged others to follow.
But Mr Malinauskas said: “When it comes to corrections, the government’s policy focuses on reducing recidivism. We’ve also got an interest in trying to tackle the overrepresentation of indigenous people in incarceration. As Premier of this state, I can honestly say I have not turned my mind to our policy pertaining to trans prisoners.”
It was reported last week that a woman was allegedly assaulted after sharing a cell at Port Augusta Prison with transgender prisoner Krista Richards in 2019.
Mr Pearce told parliament on Wednesday that the incident was investigated by South Australian police at the time and no charges were laid.
Prior to the alleged assault, Ms Richards, who has a history of violence against women, was housed in a single occupancy cell by prison authorities.