❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Corrective Services about the impact of efficiency dividends on prison officer numbers and bed capacity, given an increase in prisoners. The Minister deflects, highlighting increased capacity and officer numbers under the current government, accusing the previous government of inaction.
AnsweredQoN 618Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES —
EFFICIENCY DIVIDEND
618. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I also acknowledge Hon Niki Rattle, the Speaker of the Cook
Islands Parliament, and thank her for her address. Also, on behalf of the
member for Mandurah, I acknowledge in the Speaker's gallery today the
students and teachers from Riverside Learning Centre.
I draw the minister's attention to the recently
tabled annual report of the Department of Corrective Services that highlights
300 extra prisoners between 2011 and 2012 and a reduction of 56 prison officers
over the same period.
(1) How many
positions will remain unfilled as a result of the efficiency dividend
requirements?
(2) Where is
the minister going to make the cuts needed to meet the $39 million efficiency
dividend targets set for the next four years?
(3) Will these
cuts impact on front-line prison officer numbers; and, if so, how many?
(4) Will the
proposed cuts lead to further closures of prison units and a reduction in bed
numbers; and, if not, why not?
EFFICIENCY DIVIDEND
618. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I also acknowledge Hon Niki Rattle, the Speaker of the Cook
Islands Parliament, and thank her for her address. Also, on behalf of the
member for Mandurah, I acknowledge in the Speaker's gallery today the
students and teachers from Riverside Learning Centre.
I draw the minister's attention to the recently
tabled annual report of the Department of Corrective Services that highlights
300 extra prisoners between 2011 and 2012 and a reduction of 56 prison officers
over the same period.
(1) How many
positions will remain unfilled as a result of the efficiency dividend
requirements?
(2) Where is
the minister going to make the cuts needed to meet the $39 million efficiency
dividend targets set for the next four years?
(3) Will these
cuts impact on front-line prison officer numbers; and, if so, how many?
(4) Will the
proposed cuts lead to further closures of prison units and a reduction in bed
numbers; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) First
of all, I would like to put on record that this government has an additional
capacity of 2 600 beds for prisoners in this state, including the new prison
that is about to be opened in West Kimberley.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : We have also built new capacity at a number of prisons
including Acacia, Greenough and Albany.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : Let me say that for the first time since the closure of
Fremantle Prison we have the capacity of 232 spare beds in our prisons as of
today.
Several members interjected.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : What happened under the previous government, members?
Mr
T.R. Buswell : Tell us! We're all ears!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : There was an additional 300 positions in eight years under the
previous minister. How does that compare —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I am hearing an answer. I want to continue to hear the answer. I
do not need to hear any interjections.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : How does that compare with what we have done in the Liberal–National
government over the last four years? Members will be very interested to know
that our capital expenditure is some $655 million. We have employed an
additional 575 prison officers to accommodate the mandate that was given to
this government at the last election to get criminals off the streets. That is
what we are doing. The Minister for Police and the police service have been
doing their job; the judiciary has been doing its job. Of course that then
means that we have to deal with criminals by accommodating them in prisons.
That is precisely what we are doing.
In answer to the question relating to efficiency dividends,
at this time we are working with the department to see where we can save some
money. Members have to put this matter in context in that we have never had
this sort of expenditure in this department in the history of the state.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : It is interesting to note that today at the front of
Parliament we saw the members —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro and member for Albany, in this place I will give you the
opportunity to ask a question. At this stage, though, I am going to formally
call you both to order for the first time today.
Mr M.J. COWPER :
Today we saw members opposite out on the steps of Parliament supporting the Prison
Officers Union. I think that is fantastic. It is great that members opposite
have demonstrated in a tangible way some support for our prison officers,
because unfortunately they did not do it when they were in government, did
they?
Several members interjected.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : They did not do it when they were in government. We have been
doing it. What perplexes me a bit is that on their website there are photos of
most of the members opposite—with the notable exception of one, and
that is the former minister, the member for Girrawheen. I cannot understand
that, because I think she is a wonderful member. She does not appear on their
webpage, but a lot of the other members of the opposition do. I am just
wondering what is going on there. Obviously they are not in favour of the
member for Girrawheen, because she did not put forward the money—as
this government has done—in their time in government. We have made a
commitment to our prison officers. An EBA has been put forward, and we will
negotiate in the appropriate manner and we will, no doubt, come to a suitable
resolution to this situation.
of all, I would like to put on record that this government has an additional
capacity of 2 600 beds for prisoners in this state, including the new prison
that is about to be opened in West Kimberley.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : We have also built new capacity at a number of prisons
including Acacia, Greenough and Albany.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : Let me say that for the first time since the closure of
Fremantle Prison we have the capacity of 232 spare beds in our prisons as of
today.
Several members interjected.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : What happened under the previous government, members?
Mr
T.R. Buswell : Tell us! We're all ears!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : There was an additional 300 positions in eight years under the
previous minister. How does that compare —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I am hearing an answer. I want to continue to hear the answer. I
do not need to hear any interjections.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : How does that compare with what we have done in the Liberal–National
government over the last four years? Members will be very interested to know
that our capital expenditure is some $655 million. We have employed an
additional 575 prison officers to accommodate the mandate that was given to
this government at the last election to get criminals off the streets. That is
what we are doing. The Minister for Police and the police service have been
doing their job; the judiciary has been doing its job. Of course that then
means that we have to deal with criminals by accommodating them in prisons.
That is precisely what we are doing.
In answer to the question relating to efficiency dividends,
at this time we are working with the department to see where we can save some
money. Members have to put this matter in context in that we have never had
this sort of expenditure in this department in the history of the state.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro!
Mr
M.J. COWPER : It is interesting to note that today at the front of
Parliament we saw the members —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro and member for Albany, in this place I will give you the
opportunity to ask a question. At this stage, though, I am going to formally
call you both to order for the first time today.
Mr M.J. COWPER :
Today we saw members opposite out on the steps of Parliament supporting the Prison
Officers Union. I think that is fantastic. It is great that members opposite
have demonstrated in a tangible way some support for our prison officers,
because unfortunately they did not do it when they were in government, did
they?
Several members interjected.
Mr
M.J. COWPER : They did not do it when they were in government. We have been
doing it. What perplexes me a bit is that on their website there are photos of
most of the members opposite—with the notable exception of one, and
that is the former minister, the member for Girrawheen. I cannot understand
that, because I think she is a wonderful member. She does not appear on their
webpage, but a lot of the other members of the opposition do. I am just
wondering what is going on there. Obviously they are not in favour of the
member for Girrawheen, because she did not put forward the money—as
this government has done—in their time in government. We have made a
commitment to our prison officers. An EBA has been put forward, and we will
negotiate in the appropriate manner and we will, no doubt, come to a suitable
resolution to this situation.
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