❓ Opposition questions the Premier about the Minister for Corrective Services' performance amidst several incidents. The Premier defends the Minister, citing the difficulty of the portfolio and quoting past statements from the Leader of the Opposition regarding similar incidents.
AnsweredQoN 822Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE
SERVICES — PERFORMANCE
822. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Given
the biggest jail break-out in Western Australia's history, the
Corruption and Crime Commission investigation into drugs pouring into our prisons, the Corruption and Crime Commission
investigation into a paedophile on day release being left unsupervised,
the Edward Latimer debacle, and now the escape of the dangerous criminal Laurie
Dodd, why does the Premier refuse to sack the Minister for Corrective Services?
SERVICES — PERFORMANCE
822. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Given
the biggest jail break-out in Western Australia's history, the
Corruption and Crime Commission investigation into drugs pouring into our prisons, the Corruption and Crime Commission
investigation into a paedophile on day release being left unsupervised,
the Edward Latimer debacle, and now the escape of the dangerous criminal Laurie
Dodd, why does the Premier refuse to sack the Minister for Corrective Services?
AnswerView source ↗
The Minister for Corrective
Services is doing a terrific job. Corrective Services is a difficult portfolio,
and, inevitably, when we have thousands of people in prison who have been
convicted of criminal offences, there will be issues. That is a fact of life. I
thought that what the minister said earlier in answer to one of the member's
questions was instructive, and I made sure I got the quotes myself. This is
what the former Minister for Police and now Leader of the Opposition had to say
in 2014 when a rapist and armed robber escaped from a security van in
Geraldton. This is what the member's leader said —
It's always happened. It will
continue to happen.
She then talked about how her role
as police minister is to make sure these people get back into custody and the
like. I quote again —
It's always happened. It will
continue to happen.
The then police minister, Liza
Harvey, then said, about a person who had been convicted of burglary and had
escaped from guards at Armadale hospital —
In context, we would prefer there
were no escapes but these things are going to happen when human beings are
involved in managing other human beings.
What happened with the incident
with Mr Dodd —
Mrs L.M. Harvey : What did you say at the time?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am only
quoting the Leader of the Opposition. It is a form of flattery. I am quoting her.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you will have the opportunity to have a question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am quoting
what the member had to say. That is what the Leader of the Opposition had to
say. Is the Leader of the Opposition disowning her own words now?
The reality with Mr Dodd is that
what occurred is unacceptable. His escape was violent. I expect that when he is
recaptured, there will be very serious consequences for him. What he did is
absolutely appalling. He lured in the custodial officer, got him in a headlock,
and threatened his life unless he handed over the keys. He then used the keys
to undo the shackles that were on him, escaped from the hospital and took off
into the community. That is what he did. He is an appalling human being.
As I outlined before, the protocols—under
which he is supposed to be locked with handcuffs and with other shackles—were
not followed. An element of human error is obviously involved here, and clearly
that will be investigated. I expect that for the officers involved, it was a very
dramatic and traumatic event, and my thoughts go to them, but, unfortunately,
the protocols were not followed. I hope, and expect, that in future, people who
deal with these sorts of individuals will follow the correct instructions and
protocols.
Services is doing a terrific job. Corrective Services is a difficult portfolio,
and, inevitably, when we have thousands of people in prison who have been
convicted of criminal offences, there will be issues. That is a fact of life. I
thought that what the minister said earlier in answer to one of the member's
questions was instructive, and I made sure I got the quotes myself. This is
what the former Minister for Police and now Leader of the Opposition had to say
in 2014 when a rapist and armed robber escaped from a security van in
Geraldton. This is what the member's leader said —
It's always happened. It will
continue to happen.
She then talked about how her role
as police minister is to make sure these people get back into custody and the
like. I quote again —
It's always happened. It will
continue to happen.
The then police minister, Liza
Harvey, then said, about a person who had been convicted of burglary and had
escaped from guards at Armadale hospital —
In context, we would prefer there
were no escapes but these things are going to happen when human beings are
involved in managing other human beings.
What happened with the incident
with Mr Dodd —
Mrs L.M. Harvey : What did you say at the time?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am only
quoting the Leader of the Opposition. It is a form of flattery. I am quoting her.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you will have the opportunity to have a question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am quoting
what the member had to say. That is what the Leader of the Opposition had to
say. Is the Leader of the Opposition disowning her own words now?
The reality with Mr Dodd is that
what occurred is unacceptable. His escape was violent. I expect that when he is
recaptured, there will be very serious consequences for him. What he did is
absolutely appalling. He lured in the custodial officer, got him in a headlock,
and threatened his life unless he handed over the keys. He then used the keys
to undo the shackles that were on him, escaped from the hospital and took off
into the community. That is what he did. He is an appalling human being.
As I outlined before, the protocols—under
which he is supposed to be locked with handcuffs and with other shackles—were
not followed. An element of human error is obviously involved here, and clearly
that will be investigated. I expect that for the officers involved, it was a very
dramatic and traumatic event, and my thoughts go to them, but, unfortunately,
the protocols were not followed. I hope, and expect, that in future, people who
deal with these sorts of individuals will follow the correct instructions and
protocols.
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