❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding the alleged disbanding and replacement of the internal investigations unit, specifically concerning the retention of an officer with a history of sexist remarks and the employment status of a whistleblower. The Minister avoids directly answering the questions, instead accusing Mr. Papalia of lacking the courage to support departmental reform.
AnsweredQoN 242Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES —
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
242. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for
Corrective Services:
I refer to the minister's
claims on morning radio today that the internal investigations unit has been
completely disbanded and replaced with a new unit with new personnel from
outside.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the officer who referred to female officers in his emails
as BMWs, or bitching moaning women, is still in the new investigations unit?
(2) Is it also
true that the vast majority of staff in the new unit are exactly the same
people who were in the old investigations unit?
(3) Is it not
also true that the sole officer from the old investigations unit who has lost
employment is the whistleblower who personally raised issues in the unit with
the minister?
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
242. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for
Corrective Services:
I refer to the minister's
claims on morning radio today that the internal investigations unit has been
completely disbanded and replaced with a new unit with new personnel from
outside.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the officer who referred to female officers in his emails
as BMWs, or bitching moaning women, is still in the new investigations unit?
(2) Is it also
true that the vast majority of staff in the new unit are exactly the same
people who were in the old investigations unit?
(3) Is it not
also true that the sole officer from the old investigations unit who has lost
employment is the whistleblower who personally raised issues in the unit with
the minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) They
are suckers for punishment today! Let me put it to the member for Warnbro this
way: we are getting on with reforming the Department of Corrective Services. I
will stand in here every single day and remind the people of Western Australia
that the member does not have the ticker to tackle issues within the Department
of Corrective Services. He never had the ticker to stand up to the Western
Australian Prison Officers' Union two weeks ago when he had the
opportunity to put on the record that he also supports reform of the Department
of Corrective Services.
Point of Order
Mr P. PAPALIA : Mr Speaker, I
asked some very clear questions, none of which referred to some legislation;
they all referred to the internal investigations unit. I asked a specific
question about that individual who is on the public record as referring to
women as BMWs in emails. Is he still in the unit?
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
There are over 2 000 prison officers in Western Australia. There are over 3 000
public servants. That is 5 000 personnel. News flash: I do not know where they
all are. If the member had cared to put that question on notice, I would have
found out for him. Significant reform is going on in the Department of
Corrective Services. We will tackle the issues, whether he likes it or not.
are suckers for punishment today! Let me put it to the member for Warnbro this
way: we are getting on with reforming the Department of Corrective Services. I
will stand in here every single day and remind the people of Western Australia
that the member does not have the ticker to tackle issues within the Department
of Corrective Services. He never had the ticker to stand up to the Western
Australian Prison Officers' Union two weeks ago when he had the
opportunity to put on the record that he also supports reform of the Department
of Corrective Services.
Point of Order
Mr P. PAPALIA : Mr Speaker, I
asked some very clear questions, none of which referred to some legislation;
they all referred to the internal investigations unit. I asked a specific
question about that individual who is on the public record as referring to
women as BMWs in emails. Is he still in the unit?
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
There are over 2 000 prison officers in Western Australia. There are over 3 000
public servants. That is 5 000 personnel. News flash: I do not know where they
all are. If the member had cared to put that question on notice, I would have
found out for him. Significant reform is going on in the Department of
Corrective Services. We will tackle the issues, whether he likes it or not.
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