❓ A parliamentary question regarding the replacement of the prisoner transfer fleet, prompted by the death of Ian Ward and concerns about vehicle breakdowns. The Minister responds that a replacement plan was already in place since 2004.
AnsweredQoN 18Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONER TRANSFER FLEET — REPLACEMENT
I refer to the tragic death of Ian Ward and the repeated breakdowns of the government fleet of prison vehicles. (1) When was the minister or her department first informed of problems resulting from the age of the prisoner transfer fleet? (2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK
I refer to the tragic death of Ian Ward and the repeated breakdowns of the government fleet of prison vehicles. (1) When was the minister or her department first informed of problems resulting from the age of the prisoner transfer fleet? (2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(1) When was the minister or her department first informed of problems resulting from the age of the prisoner transfer fleet? (2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(1) When was the minister or her department first informed of problems resulting from the age of the prisoner transfer fleet? (2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(2) Why, with a $2 billion surplus, has the ageing prisoner transport fleet not been replaced? (3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(3) Why did it take the death of Mr Ward for the minister to finally act on this issue? Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
I thank the member for Hillarys for his question. (1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
(1)-(3) In answer to when the department and when my predecessor were first informed, I can indicate to the member for Hillarys that plans were made by the Department of Corrective Services from 2004 and onwards to replace the fleet. That has been occurring gradually and is outlined in the report I tabled yesterday. Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Several members interjected. Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Ms M.M. QUIRK : The prisoner transport movements annually for the year are about 26 000 to and from court and about 1 000 a year from police lockups, so those vehicles make over 30 000 movements a year. A handful of breakdowns are too many; however, we are talking about a great number of journeys under challenging conditions. I disagree vehemently with the member that it took the tragic death of Mr Ward to galvanise us into action. I said that a replacement schedule had already been underway for some time and budgeted for and that we are in the process of replacing the ageing fleet. In addition to that, I had already commissioned a report by KPMG, which is currently in draft and will be finalised shortly, but it was certainly well underway before the incident at Kalgoorlie.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.