Coroner's Recommendation Fuels Parliamentary Push to Close Unit 18
Calls for the urgent closure of Unit 18 youth detention at Casuarina Prison have echoed through the Western Australian Parliament, driven by a coroner's recommendation and damning evidence of inhumane conditions, low occupancy, and disproportionately high costs. This critical grievance, raised by Adam Hort, Member for Kalamunda, highlights ongoing systemic failures within the state's youth justice system.
What happened
On August 13, a parliamentary grievance session saw Adam Hort, Member for Kalamunda, push for the immediate closure of Unit 18. He directly referenced a coroner's recommendation, stating that the facility should be shut down "as a matter of urgency." The grievance detailed concerns about "inhumane conditions" and the centre's low occupancy, contrasting sharply with its operational expenses. The discussion drew parallels with the problematic history of Banksia Hill Detention Centre, signalling deeper issues within the WA youth justice system under the Minister for Corrective Services. The full details of this grievance can be found in the parliamentary Hansard record, which includes the coroner's recommendation for the facility's closure. This parliamentary debate is a significant development, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
What this means for you
If you are a youth justice advocate, human rights organisation, or legal aid service, this parliamentary grievance signals a renewed opportunity to pressure the government for reform. For parents of detained youth, it underscores ongoing concerns about the welfare of children in state care. Taxpayers should note the financial inefficiencies highlighted, prompting questions about the allocation of public funds. Corrective services staff may face uncertainty regarding their roles and the future of youth detention, while social justice reporters have a clear mandate to investigate the facility's conditions and the government's response.
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What this means for WA
This parliamentary call for closure indicates a growing consensus that Unit 18 is not fit for purpose. It signals a potential shift in policy towards more humane and cost-effective alternatives for youth detention. The comparison to Banksia Hill Detention Centre suggests a pattern of systemic issues within WA's youth justice facilities, raising questions about accountability and oversight. The Cook Labor Government faces increasing pressure to address these concerns, particularly given the explicit coroner's recommendation and public scrutiny over how vulnerable young people are treated.
The numbers
The parliamentary grievance on Unit 18 highlighted several critical issues. First, the core argument for closure stems from a direct recommendation by the coroner, as noted in the Hansard record of the grievance debate on August 13. Second, the facility is plagued by "low occupancy" yet suffers from "high operational costs," a combination that makes its continued existence financially questionable. Third, the persistent concerns about "inhumane conditions" and human rights abuses echo broader criticisms of WA's youth detention system, particularly when compared to the troubled history of Banksia Hill Detention Centre. Lastly, the Department of Justice has awarded contracts for services related to the facility, including a $251,298 direct-sourced cleaning contract for youth detention facilities at Casuarina Prison, which includes Unit 18, to Indigenous Managed Services Pty Ltd, as seen in this Tenders WA record. Further infrastructure spending at Casuarina Prison, such as a $3.2 million contract for expansion consultancy to Cox Architecture, seen in this Tenders WA contract, underscores the broader investment in the site, even as Unit 18's suitability is questioned. The official declaration of parts of Casuarina Prison as a detention centre for young offenders, under the Young Offenders (Detention Centre) Order 2022, confirms its legal status despite calls for closure. Additional contracts for roof access and fall restraint installations at prisons and detention centres, awarded to Haz-Ed Services Pty Ltd, are detailed in this Tenders WA record. The recruitment of a Commissioner for Children and Young People, a role crucial for oversight, was handled by Beilby Downing Teal, as per this Tenders WA contract. The ongoing operations and infrastructure at Casuarina Prison are further evidenced by a contract for its HV cable replacement.
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