❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding the transport of prisoners, specifically focusing on denial of funeral attendance, cultural appropriateness, and SERCO's performance in prisoner transport. The Minister acknowledges issues but outlines existing contractual mechanisms for addressing them.
AnsweredQoN 6155Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the transport of prisoners to funerals, and issues raised in the
National Indigenous Times
report of 15 September 2012, I ask —
(1) Is the Minister aware that an Aboriginal prisoner was denied attendance at his mother's funeral on 14 September 2012?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister advise why this denial occurred?
(3) Is it correct that in future, prisoners will only be given access to funeral services by video?
(4) If yes to (3), is the Minister aware that this is culturally inappropriate for Aboriginal people?
(5) If yes to (4), can the Minister advise why the cultural needs of Aboriginal prisoners are being ignored?
(6) If yes to (3), is this consistent with the terms of the Government's contract with its prisoner transport provider (SERCO)?
(7) Is it correct that SERCO has transported prisoners to wrong prisons?
(8) If yes to (7), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(9) Is it correct that SERCO has transported prisoners late to court appearances?
(10) If yes to (9), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(11) Is it correct that SERCO has transported seriously ill prisoners in prison vans instead of ambulances?
(12) If yes to (11), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
National Indigenous Times
report of 15 September 2012, I ask —
(1) Is the Minister aware that an Aboriginal prisoner was denied attendance at his mother's funeral on 14 September 2012?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister advise why this denial occurred?
(3) Is it correct that in future, prisoners will only be given access to funeral services by video?
(4) If yes to (3), is the Minister aware that this is culturally inappropriate for Aboriginal people?
(5) If yes to (4), can the Minister advise why the cultural needs of Aboriginal prisoners are being ignored?
(6) If yes to (3), is this consistent with the terms of the Government's contract with its prisoner transport provider (SERCO)?
(7) Is it correct that SERCO has transported prisoners to wrong prisons?
(8) If yes to (7), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(9) Is it correct that SERCO has transported prisoners late to court appearances?
(10) If yes to (9), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(11) Is it correct that SERCO has transported seriously ill prisoners in prison vans instead of ambulances?
(12) If yes to (11), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Education representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
41 days
(1) Yes. A prisoner was denied attendance to his mother's funeral. The prisoner was held at Hakea Prison and the funeral was held in Narrogin.
(2) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) recently amended Policy Directive 9 to restrict prisoner transport to funerals to within 200kms (return) from the nearest prison. The funeral attendance of the prisoner in this case was denied due to the funeral location exceeding 200kms return from the nearest prison.
The prisoner appealed the decision which was subsequently dismissed on the same basis.
(3) No.
(4)-(6) Not applicable.
(7) Yes.
(8) The Department advises that in relation to the single occasion when Serco transported prisoners to the wrong prison, the Department issued Serco with a Performance Improvement Notice (PIN) and an abatement in relation to this incident.
Under the Contract, PINs are issued to the contractor for a failure to perform the services in accordance with contractual requirements and directs improvements to the service.
(9) Yes.
(10) The Department advises that any late delivery of a prisoner to meet a court appearance is managed within the abatement regime of the Contract. Where it is proved that the late delivery of a prisoner to meet a court appearance is the direct fault of the Contractor, an abatement will be applied in accordance with the Contract.
(11) No. Since commencement of the contract in July 2011, the Department has issued Serco with one abatement for a minor breach in relation to the 'inappropriate choice of mode of transport' (secure vehicle was used rather than a passenger sedan).
(12) Not applicable.
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(2) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) recently amended Policy Directive 9 to restrict prisoner transport to funerals to within 200kms (return) from the nearest prison. The funeral attendance of the prisoner in this case was denied due to the funeral location exceeding 200kms return from the nearest prison.
The prisoner appealed the decision which was subsequently dismissed on the same basis.
(3) No.
(4)-(6) Not applicable.
(7) Yes.
(8) The Department advises that in relation to the single occasion when Serco transported prisoners to the wrong prison, the Department issued Serco with a Performance Improvement Notice (PIN) and an abatement in relation to this incident.
Under the Contract, PINs are issued to the contractor for a failure to perform the services in accordance with contractual requirements and directs improvements to the service.
(9) Yes.
(10) The Department advises that any late delivery of a prisoner to meet a court appearance is managed within the abatement regime of the Contract. Where it is proved that the late delivery of a prisoner to meet a court appearance is the direct fault of the Contractor, an abatement will be applied in accordance with the Contract.
(11) No. Since commencement of the contract in July 2011, the Department has issued Serco with one abatement for a minor breach in relation to the 'inappropriate choice of mode of transport' (secure vehicle was used rather than a passenger sedan).
(12) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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