❓ Mr. McGowan questions the Premier on the increase of Aboriginal people imprisoned for fine default. The Premier acknowledges the disproportionate number of Aboriginal people in the justice system and commits to addressing it, while lamenting the lack of bipartisan support.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL
PRISON POPULATION — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
853. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I refer to my original
question and Legislative Assembly answer to question on notice 2746, which
details that from 2008 to 2013 the number of Aboriginal people in prison for
fine default has increased from 101 to 590; how does the Premier justify that?
PRISON POPULATION — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
853. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I refer to my original
question and Legislative Assembly answer to question on notice 2746, which
details that from 2008 to 2013 the number of Aboriginal people in prison for
fine default has increased from 101 to 590; how does the Premier justify that?
AnswerView source ↗
I do not seek to justify that and nor should I. People are in
our prison system —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Clearly, there will not be a bipartisan approach to this.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the third time. Member for
Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Member for Warnbro!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
People are in our prison system because they are offenders who have been found
guilty; that is the reality.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Anyone who has looked at this issue—whether they are members of
Parliament, work in Aboriginal communities or our prison systems, or are
academics, journalists and the like—recognises that there is clearly a disproportionately
high number of young people, particularly young Aboriginal men, in our justice
system. That is one of the great social issues of this state that we are yet to
deal with. I made a commitment on behalf of the Liberal–National
government that we will do all that we can to try to correct that situation. I
cannot claim success, but we will do all that we can. It would have been nice
to have some bipartisan, but regardless we
will continue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right! Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Warnbro, that is the last time.
our prison system —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Clearly, there will not be a bipartisan approach to this.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Butler, I call you to order for the third time. Member for
Cannington, I call you to order for the first time. Member for Warnbro!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
People are in our prison system because they are offenders who have been found
guilty; that is the reality.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Anyone who has looked at this issue—whether they are members of
Parliament, work in Aboriginal communities or our prison systems, or are
academics, journalists and the like—recognises that there is clearly a disproportionately
high number of young people, particularly young Aboriginal men, in our justice
system. That is one of the great social issues of this state that we are yet to
deal with. I made a commitment on behalf of the Liberal–National
government that we will do all that we can to try to correct that situation. I
cannot claim success, but we will do all that we can. It would have been nice
to have some bipartisan, but regardless we
will continue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right! Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time. Member for
Warnbro, that is the last time.
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