❓ Ravlich questions Morton about intellectually disabled individuals held in WA prisons without trial. Morton acknowledges the issue, stating action is underway and blames previous governments for inaction.
AnsweredQoN 566Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED ACCUSED
I refer to the front-page story in today’s The West Australian about cases of intellectually disabled men being held in prison without having been convicted of crimes. (1) When was the minister first made aware that vulnerable defendants were being warehoused in prisons indefinitely because they could not face trial and had nowhere to go? (2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON
I refer to the front-page story in today’s The West Australian about cases of intellectually disabled men being held in prison without having been convicted of crimes. (1) When was the minister first made aware that vulnerable defendants were being warehoused in prisons indefinitely because they could not face trial and had nowhere to go? (2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(1) When was the minister first made aware that vulnerable defendants were being warehoused in prisons indefinitely because they could not face trial and had nowhere to go? (2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(1) When was the minister first made aware that vulnerable defendants were being warehoused in prisons indefinitely because they could not face trial and had nowhere to go? (2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(2) Why did the minister not act immediately? (3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(3) Can the minister assure the house that there are no other cases of people who have been found mentally unfit to stand trial for a crime being warehoused in WA prisons? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
I thank the honourable member for the opportunity to speak to this issue. (1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
(1)–(3) I first become aware of this issue during a meeting with Justice Narelle Johnson some time this year. I cannot remember exactly when the meeting took place—it could have been January or it might have been February. That discussion and the subsequent media coverage of a person who became quite well known to most people in WA made me understand and realise that this is a quite serious matter that had not been looked at by successive governments over many years, including the eight years of a Labor government. For 20-odd years, ministers, Attorneys General and other people involved in this issue had left it alone and not dealt with it. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : But you have been the minister for three years! Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I beg your pardon; I have not even been a minister for 12 months. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Your government has been in for three years. Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Just listen. If Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich wants to hear the answer, she can just wait. The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
The issue about why I became involved in it is that when I started to look into this matter—it is more than the five people who are on the front page of the paper—I found that there are a number of people held in prisons who are mentally impaired accused. I do not know whether members have read the mentally impaired accused act but it has to be understood who the mentally impaired accused are. They are people with an intellectual disability. I need the member to be aware that she is not necessarily talking only about people with a significant mental illness; they are people with an intellectual disability, they are people with an enduring mental illness, they are people who have dementia, and they are people with acquired brain damage. They are people who, for whatever reason, because of those particular problems, have been unable and unfit to plea. These are people who have been accused but who have never had the opportunity to have their case heard in court. As I say, the member has mentioned more than five people. I have had ongoing discussions with Justice Narelle Johnson — Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : About how many are there? Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I am not going to say “about”. I will not do that sort of thing. I know how many have come to my attention, but those numbers vary. Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Work on establishing alternatives to a prison environment for these people pretty much started soon after that. I would say that in the time I have been a minister—which is less than 12 months—I am actually quite proud that we have brought this project to its level of being close to finalisation, which was not able to be achieved by successive governments, including the member’s former government for eight years. This work has involved — The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I want to stop the interjections. Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
Hon HELEN MORTON : This work has involved work with the Attorney General and his office, the Minister for Corrective Services and his department, and my office and the Disability Services Commission. The main objectives are to ensure community safety and to look after the interests of people with intellectual disabilities outside the general prison population. I will be thrilled to talk about this in more detail, but I can tell the member that the processes are nearing finalisation.
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