❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding contact with David Volmer, manager of WA Prison Fellowship, who was charged with child sex offences, and the religious affiliations of Prison Fellowship volunteers.
AnsweredQoN 861Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DAVID
VOLMER
861. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to widespread reporting of
the manager of WA Prison Fellowship, David Volmer, being charged with child sex
offences.
(1) Has the Minister for Corrective
Services met with Mr Volmer at any time?
(2) If so, on how many occasions,
where, when and for what purpose?
(3) Has the minister exchanged any
correspondence including emails with Mr Volmer at any time?
(4) If so, on how many occasions and
in relation to what subject?
(5) Are, or were, any other members
of the WA Prison Fellowship part of the Acts Christian Church?
(6) Do any
current or former members of the Acts Christian Church have approval for access
to Western Australian prisons?
VOLMER
861. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to widespread reporting of
the manager of WA Prison Fellowship, David Volmer, being charged with child sex
offences.
(1) Has the Minister for Corrective
Services met with Mr Volmer at any time?
(2) If so, on how many occasions,
where, when and for what purpose?
(3) Has the minister exchanged any
correspondence including emails with Mr Volmer at any time?
(4) If so, on how many occasions and
in relation to what subject?
(5) Are, or were, any other members
of the WA Prison Fellowship part of the Acts Christian Church?
(6) Do any
current or former members of the Acts Christian Church have approval for access
to Western Australian prisons?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for
Corrective Services, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Once, at
his ministerial office on 28 May 2013 at the request of Prison Fellowship to be
briefed on the Prison Fellowship program. The minister attended the Sycamore
Tree Project Graduation at Acacia Prison on 3 July 2013. Mr Volmer and other
representatives of the Prison Fellowship program were in attendance. It would
be highly unusual for a Minister for Corrective Services or shadow minister not
to meet stakeholders such as the Prison Fellowship in the course of their
duties. Ministers and members of Parliament cannot reasonably be expected to
know of the undetected and undeclared criminal behaviour of people they meet.
The Department of Corrective Services has a rigorous screening process for
access to WA prisons, which has been reviewed following this incident.
(3) Yes.
(4) On 7 May
2013, introductory email from Mr Volmer to the minister and the minister's
reply; 11 June 2013, 20 June 2013, Upcoming Sycamore Tree Project Graduation;
15 May 2015 Sycamore Tree Project.
(5)–(6)
The minister is not aware of the particular religious denominations of the
volunteers involved in the Prison Fellowship.
Corrective Services, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Once, at
his ministerial office on 28 May 2013 at the request of Prison Fellowship to be
briefed on the Prison Fellowship program. The minister attended the Sycamore
Tree Project Graduation at Acacia Prison on 3 July 2013. Mr Volmer and other
representatives of the Prison Fellowship program were in attendance. It would
be highly unusual for a Minister for Corrective Services or shadow minister not
to meet stakeholders such as the Prison Fellowship in the course of their
duties. Ministers and members of Parliament cannot reasonably be expected to
know of the undetected and undeclared criminal behaviour of people they meet.
The Department of Corrective Services has a rigorous screening process for
access to WA prisons, which has been reviewed following this incident.
(3) Yes.
(4) On 7 May
2013, introductory email from Mr Volmer to the minister and the minister's
reply; 11 June 2013, 20 June 2013, Upcoming Sycamore Tree Project Graduation;
15 May 2015 Sycamore Tree Project.
(5)–(6)
The minister is not aware of the particular religious denominations of the
volunteers involved in the Prison Fellowship.
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