❓ Opposition questions the Premier about lack of community consultation regarding the location of two disability justice centres in his electorate, citing previous backlash and questioning the concentration of facilities in one area. The Premier defends the decision by highlighting the need for social justice and compassion for individuals with intellectual disabilities who have committed offences.
AnsweredQoN 233Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY JUSTICE CENTRES
233. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Premier:
On a serious issue, my question without notice is to the
Premier. I refer to the government's announcement today that it will
locate two disability justice centres in my electorate—one on land
currently part of Lockridge Senior High School, and one only 1 500 metres away
on Lord Street, not far from Lockridge Primary School.
(1) Given the
backlash from the community last year when the government tried to put these
facilities in Kenwick and Herne Hill, why was there zero consultation with
residents this time in my electorate?
(2) If these
facilities are necessary, why is the government asking one community to
shoulder the burden by having two so close together?
(3) Will the
Premier come with me to visit local residents and explain to them his decision
and hear their concerns firsthand?
233. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Premier:
On a serious issue, my question without notice is to the
Premier. I refer to the government's announcement today that it will
locate two disability justice centres in my electorate—one on land
currently part of Lockridge Senior High School, and one only 1 500 metres away
on Lord Street, not far from Lockridge Primary School.
(1) Given the
backlash from the community last year when the government tried to put these
facilities in Kenwick and Herne Hill, why was there zero consultation with
residents this time in my electorate?
(2) If these
facilities are necessary, why is the government asking one community to
shoulder the burden by having two so close together?
(3) Will the
Premier come with me to visit local residents and explain to them his decision
and hear their concerns firsthand?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3)
The Minister for Disability Services, Hon Helen Morton, did announce, as the
member referred to, the creation of two disability justice centres. Yes, there
is always a degree of community concern, and sometimes controversy, about it.
We have to start with an announcement of where the proposed sites are —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Not proposed sites—actual
sites!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member asks the question, I answer the question—that is the way it
works. The member asks and I answer.
Obviously, there will be discussions with the community. I am
assured that the people concerned are in no way a threat to the community. I
will just explain to the house that of the two nominated sites, one is existing
Disability Services Commission accommodation at Lord Street in Lockridge —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
little bit of social justice and compassion might be a good idea.
The other is a proposed new site in Kiara. This does raise
concerns in communities, and I take the issue very seriously, but I think we
also need to think about a sense of social justice here. We are talking about
people who have an intellectual disability, for one reason or another, who have
committed an offence.
Mr M. McGowan :
Answer the question about consultation.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, ask me a question.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr D.J. Kelly : I
asked the question: why was there no consultation?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question, because I think the member asked it with
sincerity. One existing disability site to be redeveloped will be a complex of
three to four houses, and another new site will be identified. We have to start
somewhere, and the minister has announced these sites. There will be discussion
with the community, and the minister has assured the —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, they are useless.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Let the Premier
answer the question, and a supplementary question can be asked.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As to the people we are talking about, there will be 10 people in each of these
two centres. That is the proposal. They are people who have an intellectual
disability. They have committed an offence, but they have been deemed not
competent to go to trial and not competent to plead. The people chosen are, by
all accounts, safe and will be under constant supervision, with the security
around these two centres. I will give one example. This is perhaps an extreme
case, but I think we have to show a bit of compassion here. This is a case in
which a teenager with a head injury was held in Casuarina Prison after he was
charged with stealing an ice-cream from a roadhouse in the outback. He could
not understand the court procedures. He was never convicted.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Let us think about that. This happened —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what I am saying. Listen.
The SPEAKER :
Premier, just sit down, please. Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order
for the first time; member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first
time. There are plenty of opportunities for supplementary questions or further
questions on this.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
teenager stole an ice-cream. He had suffered a head injury and lacked the
intellectual capacity to stand trial, if there was ever going to be a trial for
stealing an ice-cream. He spent —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This teenager spent several years in Casuarina because there was nowhere else
for him. That is not acceptable. Any sense of social justice would say that
that is totally unacceptable. What this government is —
Mr P.B. Watson :
Well, do it in Cottesloe.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are some kids in Cottesloe, for the member's information, at
Cable Station. These young people, typically, should not be in our prison
system. They are not a threat to the community, but they need constant
supervision, 24/7. They need to be kept within the facility. This costs
significant amounts of money. This government is going to build two new
facilities; it will rebuild one and build a new one. The minister, having
announced those sites, will talk to the community, and I think she will satisfy
the community that these offenders are not dangerous. They do not deserve to be
in our prison system; they deserve to be treated with some respect and given
all the support and care that we as a community can give. I do not apologise
for that. The minister will talk to the community, and we will treat the
community with respect.
(1)–(3)
The Minister for Disability Services, Hon Helen Morton, did announce, as the
member referred to, the creation of two disability justice centres. Yes, there
is always a degree of community concern, and sometimes controversy, about it.
We have to start with an announcement of where the proposed sites are —
Mr D.J. Kelly : Not proposed sites—actual
sites!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member asks the question, I answer the question—that is the way it
works. The member asks and I answer.
Obviously, there will be discussions with the community. I am
assured that the people concerned are in no way a threat to the community. I
will just explain to the house that of the two nominated sites, one is existing
Disability Services Commission accommodation at Lord Street in Lockridge —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
little bit of social justice and compassion might be a good idea.
The other is a proposed new site in Kiara. This does raise
concerns in communities, and I take the issue very seriously, but I think we
also need to think about a sense of social justice here. We are talking about
people who have an intellectual disability, for one reason or another, who have
committed an offence.
Mr M. McGowan :
Answer the question about consultation.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, ask me a question.
The SPEAKER :
Leader of the Opposition!
Mr D.J. Kelly : I
asked the question: why was there no consultation?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question, because I think the member asked it with
sincerity. One existing disability site to be redeveloped will be a complex of
three to four houses, and another new site will be identified. We have to start
somewhere, and the minister has announced these sites. There will be discussion
with the community, and the minister has assured the —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, they are useless.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Let the Premier
answer the question, and a supplementary question can be asked.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As to the people we are talking about, there will be 10 people in each of these
two centres. That is the proposal. They are people who have an intellectual
disability. They have committed an offence, but they have been deemed not
competent to go to trial and not competent to plead. The people chosen are, by
all accounts, safe and will be under constant supervision, with the security
around these two centres. I will give one example. This is perhaps an extreme
case, but I think we have to show a bit of compassion here. This is a case in
which a teenager with a head injury was held in Casuarina Prison after he was
charged with stealing an ice-cream from a roadhouse in the outback. He could
not understand the court procedures. He was never convicted.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Let us think about that. This happened —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
That is what I am saying. Listen.
The SPEAKER :
Premier, just sit down, please. Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order
for the first time; member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first
time. There are plenty of opportunities for supplementary questions or further
questions on this.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
teenager stole an ice-cream. He had suffered a head injury and lacked the
intellectual capacity to stand trial, if there was ever going to be a trial for
stealing an ice-cream. He spent —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This teenager spent several years in Casuarina because there was nowhere else
for him. That is not acceptable. Any sense of social justice would say that
that is totally unacceptable. What this government is —
Mr P.B. Watson :
Well, do it in Cottesloe.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are some kids in Cottesloe, for the member's information, at
Cable Station. These young people, typically, should not be in our prison
system. They are not a threat to the community, but they need constant
supervision, 24/7. They need to be kept within the facility. This costs
significant amounts of money. This government is going to build two new
facilities; it will rebuild one and build a new one. The minister, having
announced those sites, will talk to the community, and I think she will satisfy
the community that these offenders are not dangerous. They do not deserve to be
in our prison system; they deserve to be treated with some respect and given
all the support and care that we as a community can give. I do not apologise
for that. The minister will talk to the community, and we will treat the
community with respect.
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