Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin says it’s regrettable a violent prisoner was accidentally released early due to an administration error.
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Labor justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings quizzed Dr Goodwin on the incident during budget estimates on Tuesday.
“This is extremely disconcerting – not only for the Attorney-General and the courts and prison system – but for the Tasmanian public who expect prisoners to serve the entirety of their sentence,” Ms Giddings said.
The domestic violence perpetrator was released in April two weeks early due to the prison not receiving a second warrant from the courts, and Dr Goodwin said she had ordered a review to be undertaken.
“There were two warrants and only one was provided to the prison,” she said.
“It’s very unfortunate but administrative errors do occur from time to time but the most important thing is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The committee also heard that consulting firm KPMG will undertake a review of the Magistrates Court.
“KMPG will research and report on how to improve finalisations, clearance rates, attendances and backlog indicators in the criminal, civil and coronial divisions of the Magistrates Court,” she said.
“They will also examine the court’s administrative systems and resources, including in-court administrative arrangements.”
