❓ A parliamentary question addresses unrest at Wooroloo Prison Farm, inquiring about the number of prisoners involved, specialist personnel intervention, weapon seizures, incident report alterations, and staffing levels. The Minister provides some details but declines to answer some questions due to security concerns or lack of information.
AnsweredQoN 506Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WOOROLOO PRISON FARM — UNREST
I refer to a recent television report about unrest at Wooroloo Prison Farm and I ask — (1) Can the minister confirm that up to 60 prisoners were involved; and, if not that number, what is the correct number? (2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN
I refer to a recent television report about unrest at Wooroloo Prison Farm and I ask — (1) Can the minister confirm that up to 60 prisoners were involved; and, if not that number, what is the correct number? (2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(1) Can the minister confirm that up to 60 prisoners were involved; and, if not that number, what is the correct number? (2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(1) Can the minister confirm that up to 60 prisoners were involved; and, if not that number, what is the correct number? (2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(2) Can the minister confirm that specialist personnel were called from Casuarina Prison to quell the unrest; and, if yes, for what period were they at the prison? (3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(3) Were weapons seized from the prisoners; and, if so, can the minister please list what was seized? (4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(4) Can the minister explain why prison officers amended or deleted entries in the incident report contained in the so-called “red file” after the event? (5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(5) What is the number of prison officers per shift at Wooroloo, and is there any proposal to reduce those numbers? Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises the following — (1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(1) Accounts of persons who were present differed. However, the department’s investigation confirms that between six and 20 prisoners were involved in or near the unrest at the prison. (2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(2) Yes. After the situation had been defused by local staff, the department’s emergency support group attended Wooroloo Prison Farm between 0125 hours and 0430 hours on the morning of 28 April 2010 as a precautionary measure to provide additional support to staff. The ESG returned later the same day between 0830 hours and 1153 hours to ensure the stabilisation of the prison. (3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(3) Pool cues and sticks that had been used by some offenders were seized by staff. (4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(4) Unable to provide a response as the department does not have any files called “red files”. (5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
(5) Firstly, it must be pointed out that revealing actual staffing levels presents a risk to security. The current EBA identifies the need for a full staffing review statewide. Until that review has been conducted, the department is unable to confirm whether there will be any staffing changes.
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