❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister about closing Unit 18, citing concerns. The Minister defends Unit 18, highlighting improvements at Banksia Hill and staff safety, while criticising the opposition's approach to juvenile detention.
AnsweredQoN 566Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
YOUTH DETENTION — DEATHS IN CUSTODY
566. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that serious concerns about
the unit 18 facility have been highlighted repeatedly since it was opened, when
will this facility be closed down?
566. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that serious concerns about
the unit 18 facility have been highlighted repeatedly since it was opened, when
will this facility be closed down?
AnswerView source ↗
The recent deaths occurred at
Banksia Hill. I have to reflect on the fact that the Liberal Party was saying, ''Close
Banksia Hill'', last year. The Liberal Party was determined that we
should close juvenile detention in Western Australia. Its answer to the
challenging task of juvenile offending is to shut juvenile detention. That is
extraordinary.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr P. PAPALIA : The reason
that the Banksia Hill Detention Centre has been so dramatically improved is
that those very challenging, complex and often violent individuals who need to
be housed in a secure facility separate from the larger cohort of individuals
who are detained at Banksia Hill are housed in the safest place that they can
be, which is at unit 18. That is the only reason that staff assaults have
dramatically dropped. That is why we now have not only no trouble attracting
new staff, but also no problem retaining staff. The attrition of youth
custodial officers is at an all-time low of less than one per cent because they
can go to work in safety and deliver services to the juveniles in their care in
a safe environment. At unit 18, that is true too.
The Premier indicated that the
Inspector of Custodial Services, the Corruption and Crime Commission, the President of the Children's Court and the
Commissioner for Children and Young People all provide external oversight of these facilities, and all of them said that there has been a dramatic
improvement in both locations. To the extent that I am informed, the President
of the Children's Court last year, or earlier this year, wrote to his
magistrates to inform them that the conditions at Banksia Hill are not a reason
to not incarcerate juveniles there and he has indicated that he will do the same
for unit 18, following his visit last week.
The challenge around juvenile
detention is real and it is serious. It is far too serious to leave it to the
Liberal and National Parties. They have no idea what they are doing. They have
no idea of the harm they do to not only the detainees, but also the staff
inside those facilities who do an extraordinary job in conditions that I have
no doubt members opposite would be incapable of meeting.
Banksia Hill. I have to reflect on the fact that the Liberal Party was saying, ''Close
Banksia Hill'', last year. The Liberal Party was determined that we
should close juvenile detention in Western Australia. Its answer to the
challenging task of juvenile offending is to shut juvenile detention. That is
extraordinary.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr P. PAPALIA : The reason
that the Banksia Hill Detention Centre has been so dramatically improved is
that those very challenging, complex and often violent individuals who need to
be housed in a secure facility separate from the larger cohort of individuals
who are detained at Banksia Hill are housed in the safest place that they can
be, which is at unit 18. That is the only reason that staff assaults have
dramatically dropped. That is why we now have not only no trouble attracting
new staff, but also no problem retaining staff. The attrition of youth
custodial officers is at an all-time low of less than one per cent because they
can go to work in safety and deliver services to the juveniles in their care in
a safe environment. At unit 18, that is true too.
The Premier indicated that the
Inspector of Custodial Services, the Corruption and Crime Commission, the President of the Children's Court and the
Commissioner for Children and Young People all provide external oversight of these facilities, and all of them said that there has been a dramatic
improvement in both locations. To the extent that I am informed, the President
of the Children's Court last year, or earlier this year, wrote to his
magistrates to inform them that the conditions at Banksia Hill are not a reason
to not incarcerate juveniles there and he has indicated that he will do the same
for unit 18, following his visit last week.
The challenge around juvenile
detention is real and it is serious. It is far too serious to leave it to the
Liberal and National Parties. They have no idea what they are doing. They have
no idea of the harm they do to not only the detainees, but also the staff
inside those facilities who do an extraordinary job in conditions that I have
no doubt members opposite would be incapable of meeting.
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