The new Corrections Minister has come under fire for refusing to answer the opposition's questions taken on notice about Canberra's prison.
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The Canberra Liberals submitted questions to Mick Gentleman covering about 30 issues relating to the Alexander Maconochie Centre and corrections.
However not one of the questions taken on notice was answered, with Mr Gentleman saying they were not in an "easily retrievable form" and it would require a considerable diversion of resources.
Examples of the questions included: what is the highest level of qualification an inmate can study within the Alexander Maconochie Centre, and what paid work options are available for inmates inside the Alexander Maconochie Centre?
Questions regarding the prison directed to other ministers were answered.
An ACT government spokesman said the Liberals were offered a briefing with the directorate in lieu of providing formal answers.
"This is in addition to previous briefings and a tour of the AMC, which included an opportunity to speak with detainees and the Corrections Commissioner," the spokesman said.
"Corrections received over 180 questions with additional sub-questions, meaning almost half of the questions asked across the entire ACT government were directed towards one team.
"The JACS Directorate advised the minister that providing written responses would take three weeks to complete at an estimated cost of $3000 and recommended providing a briefing as a better use of resources."
In contrast to answers to questions on notice, briefings offered to opposition members are generally considered off the record and information in them is not made public.
The Canberra Times directed a number of questions to Mr Gentlemen, however he did not directly answer them.
He issued a statement saying: "I want to enable corrections staff to focus on delivering reforms, including implementing detainee programs to reduce reoffending and ensuring corrections officers have the training and resources they need to safely perform their roles."
Opposition corrections spokeswoman Elizabeth Kikkert said asking questions of ministers was a fundamental part of the ACT's parliamentary and democratic process.
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"The Alexander Maconochie Centre is plagued with problems. There are hundreds of people in our custody in such a dysfunctional facility and this accountability mechanism is an essential tool to ensure better governance," she said.
"For the minister to take steps to create an oversight committee to rectify problems and then so broadly decline to answer important questions is inconsistent, and shows his disdain for real accountability and good governance."