❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding Bernd Neumann's prison release excursions, specifically those involving walking puppies. The Minister defends the dog training program but acknowledges issues with the selection process for Neumann's participation.
AnsweredQoN 30Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BERND
NEUMANN — PRISON RELEASE
30. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Minister for Corrective Services:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's gallery of Mr Reece
Harley, who is Western Australia program director for the Australian Indigenous
Mentoring Experience, a program aimed at encouraging young Aboriginal people to
consider university education. Some of the program's mentors are with
him, along with three participants in the program, Shannon, Jayden and
Michaela.
I refer to the minister's
admission today that dangerous drug dealer Bernd Neumann was released from
prison on 13 occasions for excursions.
(1) How many of these excursions
included walking puppies through the suburbs?
(2) Where were these excursions to?
(3) At what point in his 15-year
sentence did Mr Neumann's excursions commence?
NEUMANN — PRISON RELEASE
30. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Minister for Corrective Services:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's gallery of Mr Reece
Harley, who is Western Australia program director for the Australian Indigenous
Mentoring Experience, a program aimed at encouraging young Aboriginal people to
consider university education. Some of the program's mentors are with
him, along with three participants in the program, Shannon, Jayden and
Michaela.
I refer to the minister's
admission today that dangerous drug dealer Bernd Neumann was released from
prison on 13 occasions for excursions.
(1) How many of these excursions
included walking puppies through the suburbs?
(2) Where were these excursions to?
(3) At what point in his 15-year
sentence did Mr Neumann's excursions commence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) I do not
know what the member has against prisoners training dogs to be used to assist
the disabled. I think it is good program. As I said, the problem with this was
the selection criteria for that particular prisoner to be involved in that
program. I think the program is fine. The problem is the selection of the
suitability of that particular prisoner. As I said yesterday, section 95
minimum-security prisoners do a lot of great work, and I would encourage that
to continue.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Absolutely, there are a lot of good programs out there.
Mr M. McGowan :
Thirteen times.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Thirteen times—I know. The way it works, Leader of the Opposition, is
that there are about 800 minimum-security prisoners out of the 5 000. A
prisoner has to be a minimum-security prisoner to be eligible for section 95
release. That means that a prisoner can go out during the day hours but has to
be back that night to do all of these kinds of projects, which, as I said, are
very worthwhile.
(2) Where did he go each of those times? I do not have that
list in front of me.
Mr P. Papalia : Was
he walking a dog?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
assume that on many of those 13 occasions he may well have been walking a dog
and exposing it to be socialised through different outings. The problem is not
the program; the problem is the selection of that prisoner to be eligible for
that program.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
(3) How far was he? Including time on remand, he was three years
—
Mr M. McGowan :
When did he start?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
will find out the exact date, but it was only recently. It was approximately
six months before, but I will find the exact date for the member if it is that
important. The point here is what we have done about it. We have changed the
rules on who should be classified as minimum-security prisoners and therefore
be eligible for section 95 anyway. As I said yesterday, prisoners have to meet
certain selection criteria to be classified as such, including having fewer
than five years to run on their sentence. Therefore, 22 prisoners have been
reclassified from minimum to medium security and have been relocated in the
last week to different prisons suitable to their classification. The issue has
been corrected.
know what the member has against prisoners training dogs to be used to assist
the disabled. I think it is good program. As I said, the problem with this was
the selection criteria for that particular prisoner to be involved in that
program. I think the program is fine. The problem is the selection of the
suitability of that particular prisoner. As I said yesterday, section 95
minimum-security prisoners do a lot of great work, and I would encourage that
to continue.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Absolutely, there are a lot of good programs out there.
Mr M. McGowan :
Thirteen times.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Thirteen times—I know. The way it works, Leader of the Opposition, is
that there are about 800 minimum-security prisoners out of the 5 000. A
prisoner has to be a minimum-security prisoner to be eligible for section 95
release. That means that a prisoner can go out during the day hours but has to
be back that night to do all of these kinds of projects, which, as I said, are
very worthwhile.
(2) Where did he go each of those times? I do not have that
list in front of me.
Mr P. Papalia : Was
he walking a dog?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
assume that on many of those 13 occasions he may well have been walking a dog
and exposing it to be socialised through different outings. The problem is not
the program; the problem is the selection of that prisoner to be eligible for
that program.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
(3) How far was he? Including time on remand, he was three years
—
Mr M. McGowan :
When did he start?
Mr J.M. FRANCIS : I
will find out the exact date, but it was only recently. It was approximately
six months before, but I will find the exact date for the member if it is that
important. The point here is what we have done about it. We have changed the
rules on who should be classified as minimum-security prisoners and therefore
be eligible for section 95 anyway. As I said yesterday, prisoners have to meet
certain selection criteria to be classified as such, including having fewer
than five years to run on their sentence. Therefore, 22 prisoners have been
reclassified from minimum to medium security and have been relocated in the
last week to different prisons suitable to their classification. The issue has
been corrected.
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