❓ Mr Zempilas questions the Minister for Corrective Services about a District Court Judge reducing a sentence for a serious child sexual offender due to Hakea Prison conditions, asking if the Minister accepts responsibility for "woeful prison management." The Minister deflects responsibility to the judiciary for sentencing decisions.
AnsweredQoN 321Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Hakea Prison—Capacity—Judicial comment
321. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to District
Court Judge Shepherd reducing the sentence of a man convicted of serious child
sexual offending in Kalgoorlie because of conditions at Hakea Prison, when Her Honour
stated that this is a problem for corrective services to fix. Given that the
judiciary explicitly singled out the minister's portfolio as the issue, will he
accept any responsibility whatsoever for serious sex offenders getting reduced
sentences because of his woeful prison management?
321. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to District
Court Judge Shepherd reducing the sentence of a man convicted of serious child
sexual offending in Kalgoorlie because of conditions at Hakea Prison, when Her Honour
stated that this is a problem for corrective services to fix. Given that the
judiciary explicitly singled out the minister's portfolio as the issue, will he
accept any responsibility whatsoever for serious sex offenders getting reduced
sentences because of his woeful prison management?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for his question. I just point out that the responsibility for sentencing or
releasing offenders lies entirely with the judicial system. As the member has
indicated—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: No, it is not anyone's fault or
anyone's responsibility other than the judicial officer in question. If the
judicial officer in question deems an individual to be safe in the community
and so releases them into the community, that is entirely their responsibility.
There is no other question. The first decision to be made by any judicial
officer in that circumstance is whether or not the individual is safe in the
community.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: If not and they release them, that is
an appalling decision on their behalf.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, the minister
is responding to the question. It is difficult to hear if you keep interjecting.
It is only the first question.
for his question. I just point out that the responsibility for sentencing or
releasing offenders lies entirely with the judicial system. As the member has
indicated—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: No, it is not anyone's fault or
anyone's responsibility other than the judicial officer in question. If the
judicial officer in question deems an individual to be safe in the community
and so releases them into the community, that is entirely their responsibility.
There is no other question. The first decision to be made by any judicial
officer in that circumstance is whether or not the individual is safe in the
community.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: If not and they release them, that is
an appalling decision on their behalf.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition, the minister
is responding to the question. It is difficult to hear if you keep interjecting.
It is only the first question.
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