❓ Mr. Watson questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding funding for Young House in Albany to prevent juvenile offenders from being flown to Perth. The Minister affirms commitment to early intervention but avoids confirming specific budget allocations.
AnsweredQoN 179Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JUVENILE REMAND CENTRE — GREAT SOUTHERN
I asked the minister in February about juvenile correctional facilities in the Great Southern region. In his answer he repeatedly mentioned the importance of early intervention investment. (1) Is the minister aware that the investment of an additional staff member at Young House in Albany will significantly assist young people in my area caught up in the legal system, saving them from being flown to Perth? (2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN
I asked the minister in February about juvenile correctional facilities in the Great Southern region. In his answer he repeatedly mentioned the importance of early intervention investment. (1) Is the minister aware that the investment of an additional staff member at Young House in Albany will significantly assist young people in my area caught up in the legal system, saving them from being flown to Perth? (2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(1) Is the minister aware that the investment of an additional staff member at Young House in Albany will significantly assist young people in my area caught up in the legal system, saving them from being flown to Perth? (2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(1) Is the minister aware that the investment of an additional staff member at Young House in Albany will significantly assist young people in my area caught up in the legal system, saving them from being flown to Perth? (2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(2) Can the minister confirm that additional funding to increase the capacity of Young House will be included in the upcoming budget, increasing the facility’s capacity to provide its court bail diversion program? (3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(3) If not, is the minister’s words about early intervention simply hollow remarks to those trying to help these troubled young people in the Great Southern? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Albany for the question. He is quite right, and I certainly stand by our commitment to early intervention and diversion strategies. The costs associated with the corrective services pathway, particularly for juveniles who carry on those behaviours into later life, are something that the taxpayer needs to pick up, and it is an extremely costly exercise. Substantial savings can be made for the taxpayers and good outcomes can be achieved by making early investments in areas to divert people away from those pathways. The member for Albany spoke with the media about the investment in Young House. I have not had any specific representations from Young House, but not very many people from regional centres are required to be placed in a detention centre. Certainly it is not the first preference to have them go down that path. It is always our first preference for them to be bailed and placed with either a parent or another responsible person. Indeed, that is our strategy in a number of areas around the state, including the Mid West and the Goldfields, and by the initiatives we are rolling out in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. From the member’s public comments on this issue, I assume that he has been pushing for and supporting the establishment of a detention facility in Albany. Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : No; just a facility, and there already is one at Young House. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Some of the commentary that I have picked up on—this might be another example of the opposition bending the truth a bit—suggests that the opposition is looking to build a facility down there where the kids can be taken into detention. Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : Instead of being flown to Perth by plane after eight o’clock at night when there are no facilities. All we want is a facility, which we have at Young House. That is why I am asking you the question. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is always the position of the Department of Corrective Services to either release a person on bail or put that person into the care of a responsible person. That is always the first position. It is only ever as a last resort that they are taken to Perth. The other thing members must be mindful of is the issues that sit behind these cases. Often the government can share with the public only a certain amount of information about what the person had done previously, the reason that person is there, and the consequences of a number of events that the person had done wrong. Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : I am talking only about the ones after eight o’clock at night who have broken their curfew and are flown to Perth at the cost of the government, the child’s family and the child. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I reiterate that it is always the last resort to send someone to Perth, no matter what time of day it is. Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr P.B. Watson : No. That is the policy from your office. Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : No matter what time of day it is, it is always the first preference to keep the person in the local area. That will always be our position. The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
The member also asked whether there would be something in the budget for staff members at Young House. The budget process is being undertaken right now and I will not comment on it except to say that we are committed to early intervention and diversionary strategies, and that it certainly is not our preference to send people on a plane to Perth as a first resort; that is always the last resort. Members need to be very careful when commenting publicly when they do not have the information on the circumstances as to why that happens.
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