The "New Economy" ?

It appears the majority of the 7000 new Prison Beds are set to be in country NSW. Junee is identified as one of the Prisons to be "expanded". It's all "jobs and growth" (for the few) again folks ! Wagga will play a key role in this Prison Town.

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/4088360/more-jobs-and-prisoners-for-junee/?cs=148

With the Fast - Train, the Bomen Intermodal Hub and all else set to by pass Wagga Wagga, will we become a part of this "new Prison economy" ?

http://www.pbs.org/pov/prisontown/

It is never the intention of government to achieve rehabilitation of the offender (as matters stand) quite the contrary, they want them to come back, they are key to the prosperity of this new economy.

It's a concentration camp system for the poor and disadvantaged. The whole scheme becomes a type of town welfare. Therefore the aim of government must never be to reduce crime, rather produce new offenders. Victims are the (shamefully allowable ) collateral damage.

We must have people on Wagga Council that will resist this type of development. By all means develop Wagga, but develop Wagga with a vision for local people and real local industries and opportunities, not these "created" industries built on the back of other people's misery and neglected societal issues.

This situation is very concerning. We will not improve our communities by locking up problems we fail to acknowledge. The worrying situation of disenfranchised people, mentally ill, homeless, poor elderly, drug addicted and political dissidents filling these new Prison beds rather than finding real local social solutions, opportunities and empowerment. Or is this Mike Baird's idea of affordable social housing for disadvantaged people ? We are not advocating for traditional criminals not to be incarcerated the like of Murderers, Sex offenders and so on, the community must be protected. We raise the concern that the poor and disadvantaged will make up a vast population of this ever expanding system. A type of  "justice" mincer.

On the upside (for the Establishment), these people won't be on welfare rather they will be 7000 new employees of Corrective Services Industries receiving an average wage of about $30 per week. A regular sweat shop. Yes, it's all jobs and growth !

Local Councils need to take more responsibility for the direction their respective Shires and Cities are taking. What is the vision (if any)? Following the will of Macquarie St and Canberra has led to our current woes. It's time to change direction.

The social health of a locale is as important for the prosperity and wellbeing of a town as the right type of development, services and infrastructure are. This can only be achieved by considering the needs and concerns of the people when planning and "developing". What are we developing and for whom ?

What are the intentions ?

Change starts at a local level-  Lorraine Sharp- Australia First Party, Group C for Wagga Wagga City Council.