❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister about understaffing at Acacia Prison following an assault on a prison guard. The Minister refutes the claim that understaffing was the cause, attributing the assault to criminal behaviour and praising the officer's dedication.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ACACIA PRISON —
STAFFING
361. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to reports in The West
Australian on 10 June that a prison guard working in Acacia Prison was
assaulted by being king hit by a prisoner
last Sunday. The WA Prison Officers' Union has described Acacia Prison
as horrendously understaffed, and stated that understaffing creates
dangerous and complex conditions in the prison.
(1) Why is there understaffing in
Acacia Prison?
(2) What steps is
the minister taking to ensure that prison officers have adequate staffing
levels to prevent this type of attack occurring again?
STAFFING
361. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to reports in The West
Australian on 10 June that a prison guard working in Acacia Prison was
assaulted by being king hit by a prisoner
last Sunday. The WA Prison Officers' Union has described Acacia Prison
as horrendously understaffed, and stated that understaffing creates
dangerous and complex conditions in the prison.
(1) Why is there understaffing in
Acacia Prison?
(2) What steps is
the minister taking to ensure that prison officers have adequate staffing
levels to prevent this type of attack occurring again?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his question and his
interest in Damien's welfare. I spoke to him yesterday. Can I just
correct the record? As much as I admire and respect the WA Prison Officers'
Union and its advocacy on behalf of prison officers in this particular case, I do
not think it had spoken to Damien about his assault. Had it done that, it would
have been aware that Damien was standing next to another prison officer talking
to a prisoner in a friendly fashion about the football—soccer—on
the weekend and was laughing when he was
king hit from behind. The incident was not a consequence of inadequate
resourcing , staffing or anything of that nature. It was a consequence of
some appalling behaviour by a criminal. That should be condemned. I absolutely
condemn that. But I will say this with respect to Damien's welfare and
wellbeing. He had a swollen jaw and he was going for an MRI scan today; I hope
that has gone well. One thing he said to me is that he was disappointed,
because he goes out of his way, as do so many of our professional prison officers in our prison system, to build a relationship
and rapport with those in his charge . He gets to know their family
circumstances, he cares about them and extends that care to them, and he was
disappointed as a consequence. He did not know this particular individual, but
he knows a lot of other people. He goes out of his way. He felt that
disappointment. Beyond that, he said to me that he is feeling frustrated
because he wants to get back to work straightaway. He is emblematic of so many
thousands of good people who work in our corrective services system, doing a really
tough job in tough circumstances, and who are not afforded any type of support
from members opposite with their line of questioning.
interest in Damien's welfare. I spoke to him yesterday. Can I just
correct the record? As much as I admire and respect the WA Prison Officers'
Union and its advocacy on behalf of prison officers in this particular case, I do
not think it had spoken to Damien about his assault. Had it done that, it would
have been aware that Damien was standing next to another prison officer talking
to a prisoner in a friendly fashion about the football—soccer—on
the weekend and was laughing when he was
king hit from behind. The incident was not a consequence of inadequate
resourcing , staffing or anything of that nature. It was a consequence of
some appalling behaviour by a criminal. That should be condemned. I absolutely
condemn that. But I will say this with respect to Damien's welfare and
wellbeing. He had a swollen jaw and he was going for an MRI scan today; I hope
that has gone well. One thing he said to me is that he was disappointed,
because he goes out of his way, as do so many of our professional prison officers in our prison system, to build a relationship
and rapport with those in his charge . He gets to know their family
circumstances, he cares about them and extends that care to them, and he was
disappointed as a consequence. He did not know this particular individual, but
he knows a lot of other people. He goes out of his way. He felt that
disappointment. Beyond that, he said to me that he is feeling frustrated
because he wants to get back to work straightaway. He is emblematic of so many
thousands of good people who work in our corrective services system, doing a really
tough job in tough circumstances, and who are not afforded any type of support
from members opposite with their line of questioning.
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