❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about his statements regarding Professor Stanley's views on an inquiry into Banksia Hill Detention Centre and whether he has contacted her since a summit. The Premier confirms he hasn't spoken to Professor Stanley but highlights government actions in response to summit requests and broader juvenile justice reforms.
AnsweredQoN 817Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BANKSIA HILL DETENTION CENTRE — PREMIER'S
MEETING —PROFESSOR FIONA STANLEY 'S COMMENTS
817. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's assertion in question time
on Tuesday that Professor Stanley said that she did not want an inquiry and she did not want a royal commission
into Banksia Hill Detention Centre, and his comments in Parliament yesterday that the Leader of the Opposition would have to ask Professor Stanley
why she is saying things publicly now that are totally contrary to what was
said in the meeting.
Given that the professor was invited to the summit in her
capacity as an expert and a well-respected member of the Western Australian
community, has the Premier contacted her directly to discuss this matter since
the summit, or is he no longer interested in her views because she disagrees
with him?
MEETING —PROFESSOR FIONA STANLEY 'S COMMENTS
817. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's assertion in question time
on Tuesday that Professor Stanley said that she did not want an inquiry and she did not want a royal commission
into Banksia Hill Detention Centre, and his comments in Parliament yesterday that the Leader of the Opposition would have to ask Professor Stanley
why she is saying things publicly now that are totally contrary to what was
said in the meeting.
Given that the professor was invited to the summit in her
capacity as an expert and a well-respected member of the Western Australian
community, has the Premier contacted her directly to discuss this matter since
the summit, or is he no longer interested in her views because she disagrees
with him?
AnswerView source ↗
No, I have not spoken to Professor
Stanley since the summit. Yes, the government has responded to a range of the
requests of the people of the summit by providing additional mental health
services, psychological services, counselling services —
The SPEAKER : Premier, if I could
just interrupt for a moment. It is a requirement to sit in the public gallery.
Thank you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It has
provided additional counselling services, additional training, additional
education—a whole range of things that were talked about at the
meeting. That was one of the outcomes of the meeting. That is not all the
government will do. Of course, over time, we will do more things. I make the
point to the Leader of the Opposition again,
and I think that this is not well recognised by people: over the course of the
last 10 years, the number of
juveniles in detention has halved. We are rewriting the Juvenile Justice Act,
which we advised the people at the meeting,
who were not aware of that fact. We have put in place programs like Target 120
that go into households that have juveniles caught up in the justice
system to assist them with parenting and other strategies so that they are not
engaged in these things. We are investing $15 million in an on-country centre
on a pastoral station so that young people
from regional Western Australia can get the opportunity for alternative forms
of rehabilitation that do not involve going to Banksia Hill. All those
things are part of what we are doing. I think that sometimes there is a lack of
recognition of many of the good things that are going on.
Stanley since the summit. Yes, the government has responded to a range of the
requests of the people of the summit by providing additional mental health
services, psychological services, counselling services —
The SPEAKER : Premier, if I could
just interrupt for a moment. It is a requirement to sit in the public gallery.
Thank you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : It has
provided additional counselling services, additional training, additional
education—a whole range of things that were talked about at the
meeting. That was one of the outcomes of the meeting. That is not all the
government will do. Of course, over time, we will do more things. I make the
point to the Leader of the Opposition again,
and I think that this is not well recognised by people: over the course of the
last 10 years, the number of
juveniles in detention has halved. We are rewriting the Juvenile Justice Act,
which we advised the people at the meeting,
who were not aware of that fact. We have put in place programs like Target 120
that go into households that have juveniles caught up in the justice
system to assist them with parenting and other strategies so that they are not
engaged in these things. We are investing $15 million in an on-country centre
on a pastoral station so that young people
from regional Western Australia can get the opportunity for alternative forms
of rehabilitation that do not involve going to Banksia Hill. All those
things are part of what we are doing. I think that sometimes there is a lack of
recognition of many of the good things that are going on.
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