PRISONS — COUNSELLING
AND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF
538. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the 2019–20 state budget and to the
coroner's recent identification of a critical shortfall in the number
of prison counselling and mental health staff.
(1) Has any
funding been allocated to increase the number of prison counselling and mental
health staff within the prison system?
(2) If yes to (1), how much funding has been allocated?
(3) How many additional FTEs will be funded?
(4) If no to (1), why not?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The following information has been provided by the Minister for
Corrective Services.
(1) No. Funding remains at current levels.
(2)–(3) Not applicable.
(4) Additional
funding for additional prison counselling services and mental health and
alcohol and other drug staff for the Bunbury Regional Prison expansion has yet
to be determined. A business case has been submitted for PCS and MHAOD staff to
cover the increase in muster at Casuarina Prison.