[Greens-Media] Baillieu crime reduction program cuts "a false economy" – Hartland

[Adele.Pedder at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has described the Baillieu government's 
decision to cut funds to a successful program that moves women out of the 
jail system and into the workforce as "a false economy".

"Melbourne Citymission’s Women4Work program puts women who have been 
released from prison into the workforce and supports them, and it has been 
incredibly successful, but the Baillieu government turns around and cuts 
it,"

"In ten years, only one of the supported women has ever returned to 
prison.  Compare that to the average rate of 38%, with most in the first 
six months from release, and you can see what a difference it makes."

"Not only does this benefit the women in the program and cut crime, it 
provides employees to industries with skill shortages and delivers large 
cost savings. The Women4Work program creates a saving of over $100,000 per 
client in the first year and $110,000 saving per client every other year 
compared to housing them in prison."*

"Cutting Women4Work is a false economy.  It has massively increased 
overall costs to the public." 
"The Baillieu government keeps bleating about cutting crime, but they take 
funding away from a program that has been demonstrated to cut crime 
dramatically and pay for itself in cost savings."
"In parliament this week I called on the government to immediately 
reinstate its funding.  I focused on the cost savings to the government 
and crime statistics, because I don't think the Premier would listen if I 
said the program helped women get out of a cycle of poverty and 
dependence, and gave them hope and self respect." said Ms Hartland.

For comment: Colleen Hartland 0417 445 845

*It costs $8-10 thousand dollars per person for the Women4Work program. 
Whereas costs to keep a woman in prison is $110 thousand dollars annually. 


************

Adele Pedder

Electorate Officer
Colleen Hartland MLC
 
Ph: 9689 6373
Fax: 9689 6227
www.mps.vic.greens.org.au
 
75 Victoria Street 
Seddon 3011
 


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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