Mr. Love questions the Minister for Corrective Services about departmental actions contradicting the Inspector of Custodial Services' recommendations. The Minister denies the accusation, affirms respect for the Inspector, and defends the department's methodology.

AnsweredQoN 368Legislative Assembly
Asked
11 June 2024
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

INSPECTOR OF CUSTODIAL SERVICES REPORT — SUICIDE
ATTEMPTS AND SELF-HARM INCIDENTS
368. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question. Is
the minister satisfied with the situation in which his own department is going
against the recommendations of the Inspector of Custodial Services because it
suits its purposes?

AnswerView source ↗

No; that is not what I said. Eamon
is a good person. I respect the Inspector of Custodial Services. Again, he is someone I meet with regularly and engage in
discussion with around measures to make things better in the corrective services world. The creation of the Inspector of Custodial Services office was
a Labor initiative.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It was even
before me !
Mr P. PAPALIA : It was even
before the member. There you go. I always attributed it to her.
Ms M.M. Quirk : I said that
mainly because if I had done it, I would permit retiring politicians to be
inspectors!
Mr P. PAPALIA : That sounds
like a good idea. I will retain that as a valuable contribution and suggestion.
That aside, the establishment of
the office was a Labor initiative, I think, or maybe we have embraced it.
The SPEAKER : Yes. It was.
Mr P. PAPALIA : We absolutely
endorse and support the independence of the Inspector of Custodial Services. We
support and encourage robust discussion around any measures to make things
better in the world of corrective services.
In this particular instance, I am familiar with the matter that the Leader of
the Opposition referred to. I have had discussions with the inspector. I
knew that he was going to make those observations. I think the Leader of the
Opposition's characterisation of his report is not accurate, though. I do
not think he is being entirely accurate in the way that he has suggested the
report reflects on the situation. It is true that the inspector would prefer a different
methodology to be applied. That aside, I will read his report with interest and
will consider it.
The SPEAKER : Members, that
concludes question time.

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