❓ Opposition questions the Minister on youth offending at Banksia Hill, referencing past comments and perceived failures in program implementation. Minister defends the government's approach, emphasizing community-based solutions and support for detention facility staff.
AnsweredQoN 288Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BANKSIA HILL DETENTION
CENTRE — MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE SERVICES' COMMENTS
288. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the fourth riot to occur
at Banksia Hill Detention Centre this year and comments made by the minister in
this place in 2021 that, ''generally speaking, youth offending behaviour
is not because people are bad but because of the circumstances of their life''.
(1) Does the
minister still believe that life circumstances and conditions like foetal
alcohol spectrum disorder contribute to the behavioural problems of young
offenders?
(2) Does the
minister accept that, under this government's watch, there has been a failure
to implement programs to manage these issues?
CENTRE — MINISTER FOR CORRECTIVE SERVICES' COMMENTS
288. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the fourth riot to occur
at Banksia Hill Detention Centre this year and comments made by the minister in
this place in 2021 that, ''generally speaking, youth offending behaviour
is not because people are bad but because of the circumstances of their life''.
(1) Does the
minister still believe that life circumstances and conditions like foetal
alcohol spectrum disorder contribute to the behavioural problems of young
offenders?
(2) Does the
minister accept that, under this government's watch, there has been a failure
to implement programs to manage these issues?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
Leader of the Opposition for the question.
(1)–(2) Yes,
it is true, and that is why 93 per cent of young offenders are handled in the
community and are not sent to Banksia Hill. The overwhelming majority of young
offenders are managed in the community. They are managed in their own
locations, hopefully engaging with their own families. The best pathway forward
for young offenders is exactly the one that the McGowan Labor government
supports, which is to work with young offenders in their community. That is why
both the current and the former Minister for Community Services invested so
much money into Target 120. That is why we are working with communities in the
Kimberley to invest in the resources families need.
Mr R.S. Love : What are you
doing at Banksia Hill?
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Exactly as
the Leader of the Opposition asked, we do that. That is exactly our response.
Of course, there are some offenders who are violent and who the courts decide
need to be remanded or sentenced to detention. The sorts of charges we are talking
about include aggravated rape; assaulting public officers—that is
usually attacking a police officer—assault occasioning bodily harm;
grievous bodily harm; assault with attempt to rob; aggravated home burglary;
aggravated armed robbery; stealing motor vehicles; impeding a person's
breathing or blood circulation; possession of firearms; driving dangerously
causing death; stealing; criminal damage; and deprivation of liberty. These are
just an example of the charges that the 47 rioters were involved with. I make it clear: yes, this Labor government
believes that the best place to handle young offenders is in the community . That is why 93 per cent of young offenders
are handled in the community, but for that small cohort of violent offenders that the Children's Court believes need to be handled in detention, of
course we want to have them in detention.
I tell members what, and this is my
last comment: I stand with the staff at the detention facility; I do not stand
with the violent offenders. I stand with the community; I do not support those
who make excuses for violence.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, if you want to have the opportunity for a supplementary question,
you will need to ask your question by way of a supplementary question, not
continual interjection.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : At the end
of the day, the Leader of the Opposition has to decide: does he stand with the
McGowan government, which supports the overwhelming majority of young offenders
being handled in the community but stands up to violence and does not give in
to it; or does he want to give in to violence?
Leader of the Opposition for the question.
(1)–(2) Yes,
it is true, and that is why 93 per cent of young offenders are handled in the
community and are not sent to Banksia Hill. The overwhelming majority of young
offenders are managed in the community. They are managed in their own
locations, hopefully engaging with their own families. The best pathway forward
for young offenders is exactly the one that the McGowan Labor government
supports, which is to work with young offenders in their community. That is why
both the current and the former Minister for Community Services invested so
much money into Target 120. That is why we are working with communities in the
Kimberley to invest in the resources families need.
Mr R.S. Love : What are you
doing at Banksia Hill?
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : Exactly as
the Leader of the Opposition asked, we do that. That is exactly our response.
Of course, there are some offenders who are violent and who the courts decide
need to be remanded or sentenced to detention. The sorts of charges we are talking
about include aggravated rape; assaulting public officers—that is
usually attacking a police officer—assault occasioning bodily harm;
grievous bodily harm; assault with attempt to rob; aggravated home burglary;
aggravated armed robbery; stealing motor vehicles; impeding a person's
breathing or blood circulation; possession of firearms; driving dangerously
causing death; stealing; criminal damage; and deprivation of liberty. These are
just an example of the charges that the 47 rioters were involved with. I make it clear: yes, this Labor government
believes that the best place to handle young offenders is in the community . That is why 93 per cent of young offenders
are handled in the community, but for that small cohort of violent offenders that the Children's Court believes need to be handled in detention, of
course we want to have them in detention.
I tell members what, and this is my
last comment: I stand with the staff at the detention facility; I do not stand
with the violent offenders. I stand with the community; I do not support those
who make excuses for violence.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, if you want to have the opportunity for a supplementary question,
you will need to ask your question by way of a supplementary question, not
continual interjection.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : At the end
of the day, the Leader of the Opposition has to decide: does he stand with the
McGowan government, which supports the overwhelming majority of young offenders
being handled in the community but stands up to violence and does not give in
to it; or does he want to give in to violence?
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