❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister regarding the state of Banksia Hill Detention Centre and the timeline for the crisis care unit, given contrasting views on its condition and recent damage. The Minister acknowledges deterioration but emphasizes safety and rehabilitation, delaying the closure of Unit 18.
AnsweredQoN 388Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BANKSIA HILL DETENTION CENTRE — CRISIS CARE UNIT
388. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to comments the Minister
for Corrective Services made this morning describing the version of Banksia
Hill Detention Centre he toured while in opposition as a model facility;
reports from the Inspector of Custodial Services that found the facility
currently is failing at every level, with young people, staff and the physical
environment in acute crisis; and advice from government that unit 18 would be closed
in the first half of 2023.
(1) Would the minister describe the
current facility as a model facility?
(2) Is he still confident that the
crisis care unit will be delivered in 2023?
(3) If no to (2),
when does he expect that to be completed and the detainees held in unit 18
transferred back to Banksia Hill?
388. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to comments the Minister
for Corrective Services made this morning describing the version of Banksia
Hill Detention Centre he toured while in opposition as a model facility;
reports from the Inspector of Custodial Services that found the facility
currently is failing at every level, with young people, staff and the physical
environment in acute crisis; and advice from government that unit 18 would be closed
in the first half of 2023.
(1) Would the minister describe the
current facility as a model facility?
(2) Is he still confident that the
crisis care unit will be delivered in 2023?
(3) If no to (2),
when does he expect that to be completed and the detainees held in unit 18
transferred back to Banksia Hill?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) My
observation about Banksia Hill remains valid with respect to what it can be. In
the radio discussion, I referred to the last
time I had been there, which was prior to the former government shutting
Rangeview Juvenile Remand Centre. I am not attributing all of what has
happened subsequently to that event, but there have been a range of other
outcomes over time and a deterioration internally in the state of Banksia Hill.
The physical infrastructure and the nature of the design of the place were
world leading when it was opened, some 37 years
ago, I think. On my visit on Monday, I talked to youth custodial officers who had been there since day one. They were of the view that it could be world
leading again, and there is no real infrastructure reason why it should not be.
I agree and share that view.
What we have to do, though, right at
the outset, is make the place safe for everybody. If an environment is not safe—undeniably
it has not been for a while now—the very many good people working not
just in Banksia Hill but also in unit 18 who focus on delivering the best
possible outcome for juveniles cannot do
their job. That is my primary focus right now. I will be taking action to
ensure the safety of the facilities.
In the interim, since the plan to
close unit 18 was announced and investment was commenced, there has been a massive
riot. It was estimated publicly that the amount of damage was about $30 million.
That is a significant setback in the time frame, and I will not speculate about
how long that will take to get back on
track. Clearly, as I indicated this morning on radio, unit 18 will be there for
some time because we need the ability to isolate the most problematic
and challenging individuals, not as a punishment but as a means of securing the
rest of the 70 or 80 individuals and enabling them to receive good
rehabilitation and the best prospects. It is
also for the best services for the individuals. Unit 18 is the best place for
them. A range of services are available for them, and some really good
and dedicated people are providing them support, but it must be done in an
environment that is safe.
observation about Banksia Hill remains valid with respect to what it can be. In
the radio discussion, I referred to the last
time I had been there, which was prior to the former government shutting
Rangeview Juvenile Remand Centre. I am not attributing all of what has
happened subsequently to that event, but there have been a range of other
outcomes over time and a deterioration internally in the state of Banksia Hill.
The physical infrastructure and the nature of the design of the place were
world leading when it was opened, some 37 years
ago, I think. On my visit on Monday, I talked to youth custodial officers who had been there since day one. They were of the view that it could be world
leading again, and there is no real infrastructure reason why it should not be.
I agree and share that view.
What we have to do, though, right at
the outset, is make the place safe for everybody. If an environment is not safe—undeniably
it has not been for a while now—the very many good people working not
just in Banksia Hill but also in unit 18 who focus on delivering the best
possible outcome for juveniles cannot do
their job. That is my primary focus right now. I will be taking action to
ensure the safety of the facilities.
In the interim, since the plan to
close unit 18 was announced and investment was commenced, there has been a massive
riot. It was estimated publicly that the amount of damage was about $30 million.
That is a significant setback in the time frame, and I will not speculate about
how long that will take to get back on
track. Clearly, as I indicated this morning on radio, unit 18 will be there for
some time because we need the ability to isolate the most problematic
and challenging individuals, not as a punishment but as a means of securing the
rest of the 70 or 80 individuals and enabling them to receive good
rehabilitation and the best prospects. It is
also for the best services for the individuals. Unit 18 is the best place for
them. A range of services are available for them, and some really good
and dedicated people are providing them support, but it must be done in an
environment that is safe.
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