❓ Mr Adam Hort questions the Attorney General regarding the Minister for Corrective Services' statements blaming the judiciary for reduced sentences, particularly in light of judicial comments suggesting it's a Corrective Services issue. The Attorney General strongly defends the Minister for Corrective Services and pivots to discussing the government's record on crime and domestic violence.
AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Hakea Prison—Capacity—Judicial comment
327. Mr Adam Hort to
the Attorney General:
I
am shocked by the statements made by the Minister for Corrective Services in
this house yesterday—
Several
members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Adam Hort: —and just now, stating that r educed
sentences for serious offenders are the responsibility of judicial officers.
(1) Has the Attorney General discussed with the minister his comments yesterday?
(2) Does the Attorney General agree with the minister's blaming of the judiciary for reduced
prison sentences?
(3) Is the Attorney General aware of District Court Judge Shepherd's statements that this is a
problem for Corrective Services to fix?
327. Mr Adam Hort to
the Attorney General:
I
am shocked by the statements made by the Minister for Corrective Services in
this house yesterday—
Several
members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Adam Hort: —and just now, stating that r educed
sentences for serious offenders are the responsibility of judicial officers.
(1) Has the Attorney General discussed with the minister his comments yesterday?
(2) Does the Attorney General agree with the minister's blaming of the judiciary for reduced
prison sentences?
(3) Is the Attorney General aware of District Court Judge Shepherd's statements that this is a
problem for Corrective Services to fix?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I am 100% behind the job
that the Minister for Corrective Services is doing. I completely agree with his
narrative and explanation yesterday and today—
Several
members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Dr Tony Buti: —t hat this government has been hard on
crime and is serious about domestic violence. I remember back in the day when we
were in opposition and the AG was Hon Michael Mischin. One of the
hardest jobs that the Attorney General in the Labor government Hon John Quigley
had—we have his former chief of staff here—was trying to get through the files.
He could hardly get into the office! Hon Michael Mischin—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I have a point of order.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: As we said yesterday, points of order
will be heard in silence.
Mr Paul Papalia interjected.
The Speaker: Minister.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: The member for Kalamunda asked a
very serious and specific question about allowing a paedophile out into our
communities and all the Attorney General can do is talk about the former
Attorney General nine years ago.
The Speaker: Thank you, member.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I ask him—
The Speaker: Thank you, member. I shall not uphold
that point of order. The Attorney General is allowed to put some context to his
response.
Questions without notice resumed
Dr Tony Buti: It probably is not worth going on about
the former Attorney General in the Barnett government because he did nothing.
The Minister for Police at the time, Hon Liza Harvey—I remember asking her
questions constantly about domestic and family violence. She never had any
interest and never had an answer. When this government got into power in 2017,
what did we do?
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, please do
not interject.
Dr Tony Buti: We established the first Minister for
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence in Western Australian history, Hon
Simone McGurk. Then we had two other ministers and now we have—
Mr Basil Zempilas: What were their names,
Attorney General?
Dr Tony Buti: It was Hon Sabine Winton and is now Hon
Jessica Stojkovski. I kind of know who they are but the point is we were
serious about it and we are serious.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition.
Dr Tony Buti: We are serious about tackling domestic
and family violence through law reform and strict legal sanctions that the
judiciary then takes into consideration. As a result of that, there has been an
increase in the prison population. I stand here as Attorney General proud that
a Labor government since 2017 has taken the issue of family and domestic
violence seriously. That issue was neglected under the previous Liberal–National
government.
that the Minister for Corrective Services is doing. I completely agree with his
narrative and explanation yesterday and today—
Several
members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Dr Tony Buti: —t hat this government has been hard on
crime and is serious about domestic violence. I remember back in the day when we
were in opposition and the AG was Hon Michael Mischin. One of the
hardest jobs that the Attorney General in the Labor government Hon John Quigley
had—we have his former chief of staff here—was trying to get through the files.
He could hardly get into the office! Hon Michael Mischin—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I have a point of order.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: As we said yesterday, points of order
will be heard in silence.
Mr Paul Papalia interjected.
The Speaker: Minister.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: The member for Kalamunda asked a
very serious and specific question about allowing a paedophile out into our
communities and all the Attorney General can do is talk about the former
Attorney General nine years ago.
The Speaker: Thank you, member.
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I ask him—
The Speaker: Thank you, member. I shall not uphold
that point of order. The Attorney General is allowed to put some context to his
response.
Questions without notice resumed
Dr Tony Buti: It probably is not worth going on about
the former Attorney General in the Barnett government because he did nothing.
The Minister for Police at the time, Hon Liza Harvey—I remember asking her
questions constantly about domestic and family violence. She never had any
interest and never had an answer. When this government got into power in 2017,
what did we do?
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, please do
not interject.
Dr Tony Buti: We established the first Minister for
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence in Western Australian history, Hon
Simone McGurk. Then we had two other ministers and now we have—
Mr Basil Zempilas: What were their names,
Attorney General?
Dr Tony Buti: It was Hon Sabine Winton and is now Hon
Jessica Stojkovski. I kind of know who they are but the point is we were
serious about it and we are serious.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition.
Dr Tony Buti: We are serious about tackling domestic
and family violence through law reform and strict legal sanctions that the
judiciary then takes into consideration. As a result of that, there has been an
increase in the prison population. I stand here as Attorney General proud that
a Labor government since 2017 has taken the issue of family and domestic
violence seriously. That issue was neglected under the previous Liberal–National
government.
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