❓ Question on Notice regarding the Minister's stance on prisoners' access to lighters and smoking in cells, considering health goals and safety. The Minister's response acknowledges the complexity of managing smoking in prisons and the need to balance health concerns with security risks.
AnsweredQoN 342Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONERs — CIGARETTE LIGHTER ACCESS
I draw the minister’s attention to the statements that he and the Commissioner of Corrective Services made during the budget estimates relating to smoking in prisons. (1) Can the minister confirm that he has agreed to overturn the ban on allowing prisoners to have access to individual lighters? (2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN
I draw the minister’s attention to the statements that he and the Commissioner of Corrective Services made during the budget estimates relating to smoking in prisons. (1) Can the minister confirm that he has agreed to overturn the ban on allowing prisoners to have access to individual lighters? (2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(1) Can the minister confirm that he has agreed to overturn the ban on allowing prisoners to have access to individual lighters? (2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(1) Can the minister confirm that he has agreed to overturn the ban on allowing prisoners to have access to individual lighters? (2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(2) How does the minister’s decision to encourage smoking relate to the clearly stated departmental goals of improving the health of inmates, and how does it meet the minister’s duty of care obligations to prison officers? (3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(3) How does the minister intend to control prisoners smoking in their cells, particularly at night? Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: (1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
(1)–(3) I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. I will make a couple of statements. Firstly, the Liberal–National government is antismoking. We will do whatever we can to reduce the level of smoking in the community and in prisons. The member probably quite rightly knows that the issue of smoking is more complex than just saying that we will stop people from smoking; it is also about managing risk. A very high proportion of prisoners smoke. It is about 80 per cent, which is a significant figure. There are processes in place, such as a trial in Roebourne Regional Prison, to reduce the rate of smoking by giving prisoners nicotine patches and encouraging them to quit. That information will be gathered and analysed to see whether broader strategies can be put in place across the prison system. This issue is about picking a policy setting that is the lesser of two evils. When 80 per cent of the prison population are smokers and we decide to stop them from doing that, it can generate a whole lot of other issues. It is a delicate situation in the prison system. I do not like smoking or prisoners smoking in their cells. In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting. Mr F.M. Logan : My question was: did you agree to overturn the ban on prisoners having individual lighters? Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
In response to the member for Cockburn’s direct question, following the questions that were asked during the estimates debates, I asked the Department of Corrective Services to tell me exactly what is in place in our prison system. I have not fully responded to that yet but I want to have a better understanding than I currently have about exactly how this issue is managed. The member asked whether we support prisoners smoking in their cells. Absolutely not. That is not a policy setting.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Another point that was highlighted during the estimates debate was that prisoners were potentially sticking metal into power sockets to light their cigarettes. That is a high-risk issue in a prison. There are a complex set of issues that need to be worked through. The member is right in the sense that — Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Ms M.M. Quirk : Is it too hard for you to grapple with? Absolutely gutless! The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
The SPEAKER : If the member for Girrawheen wants to ask a question, I will give her that opportunity. I formally call her for the second time today. Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The tenor of the member’s question was whether I accept what is in place. I do not, and I am asking questions about it. I want to find out exactly what is happening so that I can put my print on what I think those settings should be. It may be that we will end up with the same outcome because it is a complex issue, which I am coming to understand in full. However, the member is right: this government does not support smoking. Tensions are caused by banning all smoking in prisons and we need to manage those risks.
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