❓ Question regarding overcrowding at Albany Regional Prison and the timeline for new prison units. The Minister acknowledges delays but highlights overall investment in prison infrastructure and criticises the previous government's record.
AnsweredQoN 854Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ALBANY REGIONAL PRISON — NEW PRISON UNITS
I have a supplementary question. Given that 309 prisoners are jammed into a facility designed for 186 prisoners, when will the Albany Regional Prison see a real increase in the number of prison beds in the government’s much-touted new units? Mr D.T. REDMAN
I have a supplementary question. Given that 309 prisoners are jammed into a facility designed for 186 prisoners, when will the Albany Regional Prison see a real increase in the number of prison beds in the government’s much-touted new units? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
Two new units have been opened at Hakea Prison and two at Casuarina Prison. Each of those units has 128 beds. The Albany unit will be open by the end of the year or early next year, and will be ready to have people in it. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: Two new units have been opened at Hakea Prison and two at Casuarina Prison. Each of those units has 128 beds. The Albany unit will be open by the end of the year or early next year, and will be ready to have people in it. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Two new units have been opened at Hakea Prison and two at Casuarina Prison. Each of those units has 128 beds. The Albany unit will be open by the end of the year or early next year, and will be ready to have people in it. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: Two new units have been opened at Hakea Prison and two at Casuarina Prison. Each of those units has 128 beds. The Albany unit will be open by the end of the year or early next year, and will be ready to have people in it. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Two new units have been opened at Hakea Prison and two at Casuarina Prison. Each of those units has 128 beds. The Albany unit will be open by the end of the year or early next year, and will be ready to have people in it. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I am perfectly happy to acknowledge the point that there are no prisoners in those cells yet. That is fine, but when I get asked a question — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
The SPEAKER : There is an easy way to get the call, member for Victoria Park. Perhaps you can hold the applause until roughly about the same time on Thursday! Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is a foreign concept to the opposition that when we build something, it takes time to build it. We commission it, we open it, we get people to move in. This government has done that. We have 640 beds across three Western Australian prisons. That was fast–tracked and put in place. We are certainly going to close some units for refurbishment as soon as the new ones are able to take prisoners. That is just smart thinking. We are going to stagger that across the prison system; we are certainly not going to put prisoners at risk. Whenever we undertake these sorts of exercises, we go through a risk assessment process to ensure that no extra stress is put on the prison and that — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : To answer the question of whether we have made the investments: we have. New facilities have been fast-tracked to put prisoners into. We are going to take advantage of the space that is in the prison system now and refurbish old units. This government has made one of the most significant investments in capital works in our prison system for over a decade. The opposition should stand condemned for what it put in during its time in government.
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