❓ This parliamentary question and answer concern the perceived issue of criminals being released due to prison conditions, potentially prioritising them over victims. The Minister for Corrective Services strongly refutes this, asserting that judicial officers, not Corrective Services, are solely responsible for release decisions.
AnsweredQoN 308Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Corrective Services—Prisons
308. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a
supplementary question.
Can Western
Australians expect to see more cases where criminals are put ahead of victims
because the prison system is broken?
308. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a
supplementary question.
Can Western
Australians expect to see more cases where criminals are put ahead of victims
because the prison system is broken?
AnswerView source ↗
I appreciate the
opportunity to respond specifically to that claim that prisoners, offenders,
criminals, are being released as a consequence of conditions. The courts—the judicial
officers—determine who gets out of prison and who goes in.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: On very few occasions, some judicial
officers have suggested they were doing something because of the conditions in
the prison. That is their responsibility and that is a judgement they make. I
do not share that judgement. If I were the one sitting in the court—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition!
Mr Paul Papalia: If I were the one sitting the court,
the population might by going up further!
The Speaker: Minister, please direct your comments to
the Chair, not to the opposition. Talk to me.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Actually that particular protocol with
respect to who you look at is not something that has been that enduring. It
does say to address members through the Speaker, and I have done that, but I
can potentially turn to the member afterwards.
That aside, it is a
court decision as to whether or not someone is safe to go into the community. If
a judicial officer decides they are going to release an offender, it is because
they have made that determination. It is not because Corrective Services has
done anything inside the prisons; it is because a judicial officer—the courts—has
determined that that person is safe in the community. If they are not and they
release them, then so be it.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of National Party!
Mr Paul Papalia: It is on them; it is their
responsibility.
The Speaker: Members, just wait. Once again, I warn
the opposition that your interjections are excessive. You do not have to engage
with the minister in his response every single time he gets up and responds.
opportunity to respond specifically to that claim that prisoners, offenders,
criminals, are being released as a consequence of conditions. The courts—the judicial
officers—determine who gets out of prison and who goes in.
Several members
interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia: On very few occasions, some judicial
officers have suggested they were doing something because of the conditions in
the prison. That is their responsibility and that is a judgement they make. I
do not share that judgement. If I were the one sitting in the court—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Members of the opposition!
Mr Paul Papalia: If I were the one sitting the court,
the population might by going up further!
The Speaker: Minister, please direct your comments to
the Chair, not to the opposition. Talk to me.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Paul Papalia: Actually that particular protocol with
respect to who you look at is not something that has been that enduring. It
does say to address members through the Speaker, and I have done that, but I
can potentially turn to the member afterwards.
That aside, it is a
court decision as to whether or not someone is safe to go into the community. If
a judicial officer decides they are going to release an offender, it is because
they have made that determination. It is not because Corrective Services has
done anything inside the prisons; it is because a judicial officer—the courts—has
determined that that person is safe in the community. If they are not and they
release them, then so be it.
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of National Party!
Mr Paul Papalia: It is on them; it is their
responsibility.
The Speaker: Members, just wait. Once again, I warn
the opposition that your interjections are excessive. You do not have to engage
with the minister in his response every single time he gets up and responds.
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