❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions the Minister for Corrective Services about the delay in tabling the Rangeview Remand Centre contract, suggesting it's due to the Minister's changing positions. The Minister defends the practice of prisoner work programs and clarifies his stance on the specific Rangeview/Fiona Stanley Hospital situation.
AnsweredQoN 141Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RANGEVIEW REMAND
CENTRE INMATES — FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL
141. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question. Is the minister's
reluctance to table that contract in an appropriate time frame based upon his
many changes of position on the issues surrounding Rangeview yesterday; and why
will he not be accountable and table it immediately?
The
SPEAKER : Before the minister answers that question, Leader of the
Opposition, you are seeking an opinion. My standard practice in this place is
to bring that to your attention and to other members' attention. The
opportunity is there if the minister chooses to answer.
CENTRE INMATES — FIONA STANLEY HOSPITAL
141. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question. Is the minister's
reluctance to table that contract in an appropriate time frame based upon his
many changes of position on the issues surrounding Rangeview yesterday; and why
will he not be accountable and table it immediately?
The
SPEAKER : Before the minister answers that question, Leader of the
Opposition, you are seeking an opinion. My standard practice in this place is
to bring that to your attention and to other members' attention. The
opportunity is there if the minister chooses to answer.
AnswerView source ↗
If members look at the transcript of
the interview I did on 6PR, they will see that I was cautious with my language.
Obviously, the media quite rightly will pick up the greatest contrast that they
can possibly pick up. I made it openly known through the media that I had not
received a briefing about any work that was being done—or not being
done, for that matter—to have prisoners do some work at Fiona Stanley
Hospital. I made that absolutely openly known. I also made the point that I
support the notion of section 95 releases of prisoners, which happens as
practice within prisons in Western Australia and within our work camps. I gave
an analogy about working in gardens and doing that ground-type work. Just as a matter for the record,
prisoners work in two hospitals in Western Australia. At least one prisoner
from the Pardelup Prison Farm works in the gardens of the Mt Barker District
Health Service. Also, a prisoner out of Greenough works at Geraldton Regional Hospital.
As a matter of practice, it is not off the record or something that is not
done; prisoners are encouraged to engage with the community, to do work that
supports upskilling and to take the approach of getting some reparation and
giving something back to the community. It is actually a matter of practice.
If members look at my commentary
yesterday morning, they will understand that I was in defence of the
arrangements in this state under section 95. I was not aware and I made it
openly known that I was not aware of any planned arrangements with Serco and
what it might or might not do. I refer to the notion of having an organisation
that is contracted to provide services for the young adults facility therefore
having prisoners working on another site. I certainly do not support prisoners
being orderlies or being in care of people in the hospital, as was claimed by
the unions and so on. It is absolutely scurrilous how the unions took the issue
to that extent. The point is that I can fully appreciate that we have the
potential for one organisation to get a benefit from the other, but those
claims were absolutely wrong. I defended the notion of section 95 releases and
the very good work of the Department of Corrective Services to try to stop
prisoners coming back into prison. What was the last part of the Leader of the
Opposition's question?
Mr
M. McGowan : It was really one part and that was: when are you going to
table the contract?
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : In my time, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I suggest that you choose more parliamentary
language if you are going to interject on the minister. I formally call you to
order for the first time today.
the interview I did on 6PR, they will see that I was cautious with my language.
Obviously, the media quite rightly will pick up the greatest contrast that they
can possibly pick up. I made it openly known through the media that I had not
received a briefing about any work that was being done—or not being
done, for that matter—to have prisoners do some work at Fiona Stanley
Hospital. I made that absolutely openly known. I also made the point that I
support the notion of section 95 releases of prisoners, which happens as
practice within prisons in Western Australia and within our work camps. I gave
an analogy about working in gardens and doing that ground-type work. Just as a matter for the record,
prisoners work in two hospitals in Western Australia. At least one prisoner
from the Pardelup Prison Farm works in the gardens of the Mt Barker District
Health Service. Also, a prisoner out of Greenough works at Geraldton Regional Hospital.
As a matter of practice, it is not off the record or something that is not
done; prisoners are encouraged to engage with the community, to do work that
supports upskilling and to take the approach of getting some reparation and
giving something back to the community. It is actually a matter of practice.
If members look at my commentary
yesterday morning, they will understand that I was in defence of the
arrangements in this state under section 95. I was not aware and I made it
openly known that I was not aware of any planned arrangements with Serco and
what it might or might not do. I refer to the notion of having an organisation
that is contracted to provide services for the young adults facility therefore
having prisoners working on another site. I certainly do not support prisoners
being orderlies or being in care of people in the hospital, as was claimed by
the unions and so on. It is absolutely scurrilous how the unions took the issue
to that extent. The point is that I can fully appreciate that we have the
potential for one organisation to get a benefit from the other, but those
claims were absolutely wrong. I defended the notion of section 95 releases and
the very good work of the Department of Corrective Services to try to stop
prisoners coming back into prison. What was the last part of the Leader of the
Opposition's question?
Mr
M. McGowan : It was really one part and that was: when are you going to
table the contract?
Mr
D.T. REDMAN : In my time, Leader of the Opposition.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I suggest that you choose more parliamentary
language if you are going to interject on the minister. I formally call you to
order for the first time today.
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