BANKSIA
HILL DETENTION CENTRE — FOUR
CORNERS REPORT
686. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the minister's comments in the Four
Corners investigation broadcast last night regarding moving young offenders
to cells at Casuarina maximum-security adult prison, and I quote —
�
we've been able to get a much better environment for everybody,
including the youth offenders themselves.
(1) After the
train wreck of the youth justice system was laid bare in last night's
program, does the minister stand by his comments?
(2) In an effort to reinstate community trust in the system,
will the minister resign?
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON
replied:
(1)–(2) There are indeed many views —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for Wanneroo and others! I am
waiting for quiet, then I will give the minister the call.
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON: Thank you
very much.
There are many views about the
nature of detention at Banksia Hill Detention Centre. I will quote something
about people's views of detention at Banksia Hill —
A young boy told me a few weeks ago
that juvie is so good—good food, good beds, good Xbox.
Member,
who was that? It was the member for North West Central in her inaugural speech.
The National Party and the Liberal Party are schizophrenic on this
issue. The problem is that members opposite want to walk both sides of the
street.
I note that there has not been an
endorsement of my decision to review the Young Offenders Act 1994, which is the first time it will be reviewed in 22 years. If
you want to make a difference about the structure of the youth justice
system in Western Australia, you have to start at the heart of the rules. We
have to ask: is the community being served by the current arrangements for the
law in this state? I do not know anybody in the youth justice area who believes
that the Young Offenders Act 1994 is contemporary. What have I done? I have
launched a review of the Young Offenders Act, which is massively overdue. What
am I doing at Banksia Hill? We are spending the money to create a therapeutic
environment for those in crisis, while, at the same time, hardening a small
number of cells for that very, very small number of detainees who have been
acting against the interests of the community.
It used to be that the Liberal Party
supported protecting the community. It supported protecting workers in the youth justice system. Of course we want to get
good outcomes for youth offenders, but I do not apologise for saying
that the three issues are: protect the community first, protect the workforce
second, and provide a therapeutic environment for young offenders as best we
can. The idea that there is a magic wand that can be waved around to solve the
problems of the youth justice system is simply not correct. Let us understand
that one of the big reasons we have a challenge is that the Liberal Party chose
to close Rangeview Remand Centre. That means there is only one juvenile
detention facility in Western Australia. Do not forget that in 2021, when I became
minister, the Inspector of Custodial Services said that Banksia Hill was in the
best situation it had been in for a decade. Do not forget that. It would be
lovely to have a second juvenile detention facility. But, member, do you want
it in your electorate? Tell me which site it is that the Liberal Party —
Several members interjected.
Mr
W.J. JOHNSTON: You tell me where
the Liberal Party plans to put a juvenile detention facility. You tell me that.
When I talked to the people of Broome about selecting a site, the Liberal Party
opposed both sites. When Geoff Gallop was Premier and the Labor Party chose the
Boronia site, the Liberal Party opposed it. You tell me where you want the
second juvenile detention facility.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Attorney General,
that was disorderly, as it was also from you, minister.