Canberra Liberals to move no-confidence motion in Mick Gentleman

The opposition said it would move the motion after what it described as a "litany of failures" under Mr Gentleman's leadership.

It follows the dramatic escape of a prisoner last month, where a Toyota Camry corrections car was rammed multiple times before the prisoner inside fled.

In the same month, a prisoner was also mistakenly released from the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

And in November last year there was a serious riot at the Alexander Maconochie Centre that resulted in a $5.7 million repair bill.

But problems have plagued the jail long before Mr Gentleman became the responsible minister.

In early 2019, a scathing review from the territory's Inspector of Correctional Services found overcrowding at the jail could lead to breaches of human rights for both inmates and staff.

Mr Gentleman became corrections minister in November after the ACT election. The position was previously held by Shane Rattenbury, who is now the territory's attorney-general.

The Canberra Times understands the opposition will give notice of the no-confidence motion to Speaker Joy Burch early on Tuesday morning.

Under the ACT Legislative Assembly's standing orders, a member does not need to give the speaker a copy of the motion until 90 minutes before the motion is expected to be moved.

The motion will be moved by the opposition's corrections spokeswoman Elizabeth Kikkert, who accused Mr Gentleman of overseeing a system "riddled with unprecedented disasters".

"In the last month alone, we have seen the escape of a detainee through the use of extremely dangerous methods on the streets of Canberra and a prisoner mistakenly released into the community," Mrs Kikkert said in a statement provided to The Canberra Times.

"Whenever leadership is required by this minister he goes missing.

"Staff in the AMC have never face more life-threatening situations than they have under this minister.

"Staff have had to fight fires, respond to riots without effective training and were put in serious danger as were the public when using vehicles for prisoner transfers deemed unsuitable by the Inspector of Correctional Services."

MORE A.C.T. POLITICS NEWS:

Shortly after becoming corrections minister, Mr Gentleman formed an oversight committee designed to address issues at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The committee, led by former Victoria police chief commissioner Christine Nixon, includes representatives from the prison, Human Rights Commission, the union and a delegate from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

"Members are working to develop a blueprint for change," Mr Gentleman has previously said.

"This will include an urgent focus on bringing training capabilities up-to-date and examining staffing levels and rostering to ensure staff development and wellbeing."

It is the first time in this parliamentary term that the opposition has move a no-confidence motion. During the last Assembly term, the opposition moved a number of no-confidence motions against former health minister Meegan Fitzharris, which were all unsuccessful.

Such motions often fail, as the opposition is unable to attract a majority of votes.

The Labor-Greens power-sharing agreement means the Greens can only support a no-confidence motion if there is proven corruption, conduct that threatens public confidence in the integrity of government or significant and intentional non-adherence to the agreement or ministerial code of conduct.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: