❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Premier on the increase in Aboriginal incarceration rates despite a previous commitment to reduce them. The Premier defends the government's efforts, stating the issue is complex and requires time and inter-ministerial collaboration.
AnsweredQoN 904Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDIGENOUS INCARCERATION RATES
904. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Premier:
I note that tomorrow
is the one-year anniversary of the Premier's commitment to reduce the number
of Aboriginal people in custody, yet in that year the number of Aboriginal
Western Australians in prisons has increased by over six per cent.
(1) When are the legislative and policy
measures that the Premier promised, to avoid the incarceration of low-level
Aboriginal offenders, going to be introduced?
(2) How has the Premier allowed an extra 140
Aboriginal people to enter custody in a year that he claimed he would reduce
these numbers?
904. Mr P. PAPALIA to the
Premier:
I note that tomorrow
is the one-year anniversary of the Premier's commitment to reduce the number
of Aboriginal people in custody, yet in that year the number of Aboriginal
Western Australians in prisons has increased by over six per cent.
(1) When are the legislative and policy
measures that the Premier promised, to avoid the incarceration of low-level
Aboriginal offenders, going to be introduced?
(2) How has the Premier allowed an extra 140
Aboriginal people to enter custody in a year that he claimed he would reduce
these numbers?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It is a tragedy that so many Aboriginal
people, and particularly young Aboriginal men, are in custody. However, we also
need to remember that the offences committed are serious; it is not easy to get
a prison sentence. Judges and magistrates are very tolerant.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the member's
question.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Let the
Premier answer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The judiciary does not lightly send a
person to jail and they certainly do not lightly send young people, including
teenagers and people in their early 20s, to jail. A number of ministers are
working on this. We need to reduce the rate of offending.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I never said that the rate would come down
in one year; I never said that.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, you have asked a question; let the Premier
answer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : At no stage would I or any other sensible
person claim that we would achieve that within 12 months. I did not make that
claim at all. This government is serious about reducing the number of Aboriginal
people in our prison system. We are working on that across several portfolios,
with senior ministers involved. If the member would like a briefing on what has
been done, I am happy to provide that for him. It is not easily solved, but for
the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is taking it on.
people, and particularly young Aboriginal men, are in custody. However, we also
need to remember that the offences committed are serious; it is not easy to get
a prison sentence. Judges and magistrates are very tolerant.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the member's
question.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time. Let the
Premier answer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The judiciary does not lightly send a
person to jail and they certainly do not lightly send young people, including
teenagers and people in their early 20s, to jail. A number of ministers are
working on this. We need to reduce the rate of offending.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I never said that the rate would come down
in one year; I never said that.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, you have asked a question; let the Premier
answer.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : At no stage would I or any other sensible
person claim that we would achieve that within 12 months. I did not make that
claim at all. This government is serious about reducing the number of Aboriginal
people in our prison system. We are working on that across several portfolios,
with senior ministers involved. If the member would like a briefing on what has
been done, I am happy to provide that for him. It is not easily solved, but for
the first time we have a government in Western Australia that is taking it on.
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