❓ Mrs. Godfrey asks the Minister for Corrective Services to outline changes underway in the Department. The Minister details plans to address cultural and structural issues, including streamlining top-level positions and improving recidivism rates.
AnsweredQoN 920Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES — REFORMS
920. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the Minister for
Corrective Services:
Today on radio the minister detailed significant changes underway in
the Department of Corrective Services. Can the minister please outline to the
house the nature of these changes?
920. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the Minister for
Corrective Services:
Today on radio the minister detailed significant changes underway in
the Department of Corrective Services. Can the minister please outline to the
house the nature of these changes?
AnswerView source ↗
I have always said that this government has two priorities when it
comes to corrections—firstly, to protect the public from dangerous
criminals, and, secondly, to get value for money for the taxpayers of Western
Australia. Part of getting value for money is to ensure that we reduce the
recidivism rate—that is, that we do everything we can to stop people
from breaking the law again and landing in jail. I know that it is a tough
game, but we are determined to do everything we can to address those issues.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : It is no secret that I have had concerns
for some time about both —
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to order for the second time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : It is no secret that I have had concerns
for some time, almost since becoming minister, about cultural and structural
issues with the Department of Corrective Services. We are moving to address
those issues, starting with a new commissioner, who kicked off in that role
just over a month ago. We are also bringing in tools that will give the
commissioner the ability to get rid of prison officers who should perhaps not be
employed in the service. We will address the cultural issues in the Department
of Corrective Services with or without the support of the opposition; it is
going to happen regardless. I do not really care whether the opposition
supports it, but the fact that it does not says more about its principles than
it does about ours.
Secondly, we are going to tackle the structural issues within the
Department of Corrective Services. We are going to streamline things. An
initial structural change under the new commissioner will be a rationalisation
of 11 top-level positions that report to the commissioner. About half of those
jobs will be redesigned and restructured so that we can streamline processes
within the Department of Corrective Services, because at the end of the day it
is ridiculous to have a doubling up of bureaucracy within a department. It is
important that we have a single point of responsibility within a department for
end-to-end service delivery—that is, for people starting their
interaction with the Department of Corrective Services all the way through to
being incarcerated, being reformed, being released, being given a job and being
given help to get on with their lives so that they can make a meaningful
contribution to society. This government is determined and committed to
reforming the Department of Corrective Services.
Having said all that, I take this opportunity to wish all my colleagues
all the best for the festive season. In a perfect world I would have bought
every member a present; I cannot. The spirit is in the giving of a present. I
am going to give one present to the member for Bassendean. It is my pleasure to
give him the golden sneaker award for Labor leadership ambitions. This is from
me to you, buddy; the golden sneaker. I think he will love it.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Corrective Services, did you not listen to my statement
yesterday? I call you to order for the first time.
comes to corrections—firstly, to protect the public from dangerous
criminals, and, secondly, to get value for money for the taxpayers of Western
Australia. Part of getting value for money is to ensure that we reduce the
recidivism rate—that is, that we do everything we can to stop people
from breaking the law again and landing in jail. I know that it is a tough
game, but we are determined to do everything we can to address those issues.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn!
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : It is no secret that I have had concerns
for some time about both —
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER : I call you to order for the second time.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : It is no secret that I have had concerns
for some time, almost since becoming minister, about cultural and structural
issues with the Department of Corrective Services. We are moving to address
those issues, starting with a new commissioner, who kicked off in that role
just over a month ago. We are also bringing in tools that will give the
commissioner the ability to get rid of prison officers who should perhaps not be
employed in the service. We will address the cultural issues in the Department
of Corrective Services with or without the support of the opposition; it is
going to happen regardless. I do not really care whether the opposition
supports it, but the fact that it does not says more about its principles than
it does about ours.
Secondly, we are going to tackle the structural issues within the
Department of Corrective Services. We are going to streamline things. An
initial structural change under the new commissioner will be a rationalisation
of 11 top-level positions that report to the commissioner. About half of those
jobs will be redesigned and restructured so that we can streamline processes
within the Department of Corrective Services, because at the end of the day it
is ridiculous to have a doubling up of bureaucracy within a department. It is
important that we have a single point of responsibility within a department for
end-to-end service delivery—that is, for people starting their
interaction with the Department of Corrective Services all the way through to
being incarcerated, being reformed, being released, being given a job and being
given help to get on with their lives so that they can make a meaningful
contribution to society. This government is determined and committed to
reforming the Department of Corrective Services.
Having said all that, I take this opportunity to wish all my colleagues
all the best for the festive season. In a perfect world I would have bought
every member a present; I cannot. The spirit is in the giving of a present. I
am going to give one present to the member for Bassendean. It is my pleasure to
give him the golden sneaker award for Labor leadership ambitions. This is from
me to you, buddy; the golden sneaker. I think he will love it.
The SPEAKER : Minister for Corrective Services, did you not listen to my statement
yesterday? I call you to order for the first time.
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