❓ Question regarding the escape of prisoners from custody at the Supreme Court and the role of AIMS Corporation. The Minister denies AIMS was responsible for high-security prisoner escorts and blames the opposition for ignorance.
AnsweredQoN 325Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to her press release yesterday that attempted to shift blame - this time onto AIMS Corporation Pty Ltd - for the escape of nine prisoners from custody at the Supreme Court and the announcement that AIMS will be stood down from court custody and guard duties at the court pending the outcome of an independent investigation. (1) Was AIMS responsible for failing to heed warnings from the Inspector of Custodial Services to upgrade security at the court as a matter of urgency, or was it the minister? (2) Was AIMS responsible for the department’s practice of placing high-security prisoners into the custody of contract staff, or was it the minister? (3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(1) Was AIMS responsible for failing to heed warnings from the Inspector of Custodial Services to upgrade security at the court as a matter of urgency, or was it the minister? (2) Was AIMS responsible for the department’s practice of placing high-security prisoners into the custody of contract staff, or was it the minister? (3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(2) Was AIMS responsible for the department’s practice of placing high-security prisoners into the custody of contract staff, or was it the minister? (3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(1) Was AIMS responsible for failing to heed warnings from the Inspector of Custodial Services to upgrade security at the court as a matter of urgency, or was it the minister? (2) Was AIMS responsible for the department’s practice of placing high-security prisoners into the custody of contract staff, or was it the minister? (3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(2) Was AIMS responsible for the department’s practice of placing high-security prisoners into the custody of contract staff, or was it the minister? (3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(3) Will the minister, in light of these failings, also be standing down during the investigation into last Thursday’s debacle? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
(1)-(3) There seems to be some misunderstanding on the part of the member for Nedlands, because the fact of the matter is that high-security escorts are conducted by the Department of Justice staff and not by AIMS. Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Who makes the decision? Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Ms S.E. Walker: There are no - The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: It has been the case all along. The member for Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition have shown their ignorance. The fact of the matter is - Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It is all in the report. Have you read it? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Yes. It is a recommendation in the report. The part of the report that recommends that high-security prisoners being transferred from the prison to the Supreme Court should not be escorted by AIMS was adopted. Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Ms S.E. Walker: That is right. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: The member says it is right. The fact of the matter is that those escorts, before the escape, were conducted in that way. The member for Nedlands has egg on her face and so has the Leader of the Opposition. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
The SPEAKER: Order! It is very difficult for the minister to answer when two members are constantly interjecting. One is bad enough, but two are impossible. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: Members opposite would like to pretend that prior to last week’s escape high-security rated prisoners were escorted to the Supreme Court by AIMS. They were not. Since we have been in government they have been escorted by high level Department of Justice staff. Within the complex, specifically in the cell area, the belief of the Department of Justice was that it was appropriate to hold AIMS to what it had been contracted to do. The contract has certain terms and conditions that AIMS agreed to meet. The department opted to hold it to meet its obligations under the contract. In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
In respect of the earlier part of the question, we do not know at this stage that the physical environment is the issue here. It would seem to me, as indicated in advice provided to me, that given the known physical environment, and given that work will happen at a later date, one must manage those aspects operationally in the way prisoners are handled. Even talkback radio callers are asking questions about why greater use was not made of videoconferencing, why prisoners were not shackled while in cells and so forth. There was an obligation on both AIMS and the Department of Justice to ensure, given the physical environment, that they provided appropriate staffing levels, and that those staff behaved in an appropriate way.
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