❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Corrective Services about the adequacy of the department's response to the Inspector of Custodial Services' report on Banksia Hill Detention Centre. The Minister defends the department's response and highlights the Inspector's independence and lack of operational involvement.
AnsweredQoN 496Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BANKSIA HILL DETENTION
CENTRE — INSPECTOR OF CUSTODIAL SERVICES
496. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
Thank you for your guidance,
Speaker.
I have a supplementary question. Why
was the minister's department incapable of providing a proper response
to the Inspector of Custodial Services' December report?
CENTRE — INSPECTOR OF CUSTODIAL SERVICES
496. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
Thank you for your guidance,
Speaker.
I have a supplementary question. Why
was the minister's department incapable of providing a proper response
to the Inspector of Custodial Services' December report?
AnswerView source ↗
When
I was an industrial officer at the union, sometimes I would make submissions in
closing remarks to the bench . The other party would get up and object
and say, ''Submission not reflected in evidence.'' That is what I
say about the Leader of the Liberal Party: that is a submission not reflected
in evidence. The Inspector of Custodial Services is independent of government. The response provided to him by the
department was adequate. Just because he does not think it is adequate
does not mean it is inadequate. He is independent of government. It is his
advice. It is his perspective. In the end, the Inspector of Custodial Services
is not involved in any way in the operations of prisons or custodial services,
because if he was, he would have a conflict of interest. He has provided
commentary on the operations of the Banksia Hill facility. We are doing our best
to provide the services that are needed. I emphasise again that since the small
cohort of disruptive and violent young offenders was moved to unit 18, Banksia
Hill, where the overwhelming majority of young offenders are housed, has been
operating not without incident, but largely in accordance with its plans. It
provides the level of services that are required to assist these young people
to reintegrate back into society and to play a proper role.
I understand there is a small group
of youth offenders who have acted up, been violent and attacked youth custodial officers. They have been very difficult to
manage, which is why we moved them to unit 18. Again, I emphasise that for the overwhelming majority of young offenders, Banksia Hill is now providing
the services that are required.
I was an industrial officer at the union, sometimes I would make submissions in
closing remarks to the bench . The other party would get up and object
and say, ''Submission not reflected in evidence.'' That is what I
say about the Leader of the Liberal Party: that is a submission not reflected
in evidence. The Inspector of Custodial Services is independent of government. The response provided to him by the
department was adequate. Just because he does not think it is adequate
does not mean it is inadequate. He is independent of government. It is his
advice. It is his perspective. In the end, the Inspector of Custodial Services
is not involved in any way in the operations of prisons or custodial services,
because if he was, he would have a conflict of interest. He has provided
commentary on the operations of the Banksia Hill facility. We are doing our best
to provide the services that are needed. I emphasise again that since the small
cohort of disruptive and violent young offenders was moved to unit 18, Banksia
Hill, where the overwhelming majority of young offenders are housed, has been
operating not without incident, but largely in accordance with its plans. It
provides the level of services that are required to assist these young people
to reintegrate back into society and to play a proper role.
I understand there is a small group
of youth offenders who have acted up, been violent and attacked youth custodial officers. They have been very difficult to
manage, which is why we moved them to unit 18. Again, I emphasise that for the overwhelming majority of young offenders, Banksia Hill is now providing
the services that are required.
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