❓ Opposition questions the Premier's handling of dangerous offenders. Premier responds, highlighting government reforms and placing blame for an escaped prisoner on previous government's contracted security.
AnsweredQoN 808Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LAW AND ORDER
808. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
When is the Premier going to get his head out of the sand and take some action
to get dangerous and violent offenders like Latimer and Dodd off the street and
behind bars?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
808. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
When is the Premier going to get his head out of the sand and take some action
to get dangerous and violent offenders like Latimer and Dodd off the street and
behind bars?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
Detail is not the Leader of the
Opposition's strong point.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The latest
advice I have is that Mr Latimer is in custody. He is in custody because of the
reforms we brought in for dangerous sex offenders.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Those reforms
ensure the following —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time; I warned you twice!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have
reversed the onus of proof so that the offender must satisfy the court that
they will comply with any order imposed by the court, and we have created the
requirement that the court must be satisfied, on the balance of probabilities,
that the offender will comply with all standard conditions before any
supervision order is made. We have put in the Bail Act a presumption against
bail for any dangerous sex offender who is charged with breaching a DSO
supervision order. You had eight and a half years to deal with any of these
issues and you did nothing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time; member for Hillarys, I call
you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Minister
for Corrective Services outlined just before question time the circumstances
surrounding Mr Dodd, the escaped prisoner. It appears that the contract for the
officers who were in charge of Mr Dodd was signed by the last government. The
officers involved were instructed to use handcuffs and security chain links to
manage the prisoner, and it appears that they did not use the handcuffs as
instructed. Obviously, like everyone else, I find this to be unacceptable. It
is appalling that this has occurred. There were arrangements that were required
to be implemented by the officers who had charge of Mr Dodd, but those
requirements were not adhered to. We find that not acceptable. There will be a full
inquiry into this matter to find out why and how this has occurred, and how Mr
Dodd was allowed to escape in that manner. Obviously, it was very traumatic for
the officers involved, but it appears that they did not use the handcuffs that
they were required to use under the directions that were given to them.
Opposition's strong point.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The latest
advice I have is that Mr Latimer is in custody. He is in custody because of the
reforms we brought in for dangerous sex offenders.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Those reforms
ensure the following —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time; I warned you twice!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We have
reversed the onus of proof so that the offender must satisfy the court that
they will comply with any order imposed by the court, and we have created the
requirement that the court must be satisfied, on the balance of probabilities,
that the offender will comply with all standard conditions before any
supervision order is made. We have put in the Bail Act a presumption against
bail for any dangerous sex offender who is charged with breaching a DSO
supervision order. You had eight and a half years to deal with any of these
issues and you did nothing.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the second time; member for Hillarys, I call
you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Minister
for Corrective Services outlined just before question time the circumstances
surrounding Mr Dodd, the escaped prisoner. It appears that the contract for the
officers who were in charge of Mr Dodd was signed by the last government. The
officers involved were instructed to use handcuffs and security chain links to
manage the prisoner, and it appears that they did not use the handcuffs as
instructed. Obviously, like everyone else, I find this to be unacceptable. It
is appalling that this has occurred. There were arrangements that were required
to be implemented by the officers who had charge of Mr Dodd, but those
requirements were not adhered to. We find that not acceptable. There will be a full
inquiry into this matter to find out why and how this has occurred, and how Mr
Dodd was allowed to escape in that manner. Obviously, it was very traumatic for
the officers involved, but it appears that they did not use the handcuffs that
they were required to use under the directions that were given to them.
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