❓ Mr. Hort questions the Premier about the potential use of the Bullsbrook quarantine facility as a prison and the lack of public communication. The Premier denies the Minister's confirmation and outlines investments in prison expansion, emphasizing the Commonwealth's decision on the facility's use.
AnsweredQoN 205Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Bullsbrook quarantine facility—New prison
205. Mr Adam Hort to
the Premier:
I refer to the
Minister for Corrective Services' confirmation today that the government is
looking at using the unused COVID quarantine camp in Bullsbrook as a new
prison.
(1) Why did the government avoid
informing the public about this last week when there was a discussion about
using the camp to help house pensioners and veterans who do not have a home?
(2) How much will the government spend on
changing this camp into a prison?
205. Mr Adam Hort to
the Premier:
I refer to the
Minister for Corrective Services' confirmation today that the government is
looking at using the unused COVID quarantine camp in Bullsbrook as a new
prison.
(1) Why did the government avoid
informing the public about this last week when there was a discussion about
using the camp to help house pensioners and veterans who do not have a home?
(2) How much will the government spend on
changing this camp into a prison?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) Of course, the minister did no such
thing. We did confirm that we are considering a range of options in relation to
our growing prison population. Part of that is the construction of beds, which
is already underway—around 373 extra beds through the stage 2 expansion of
Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds that were delivered in stage 1.
We continue to invest, with $181 million to expand Acacia Prison, which
will provide an additional 320 beds. We have invested over $426 million
in youth detention since 2022. This includes a $158 million commitment for
a new youth detention facility to replace unit 18 at Casuarina. The fact
of the matter is that between 2016 and 2024, Western Australia's population grew
by 17%. In addition, the government during that time was serious about cracking
down on family and domestic violence to make sure that people paid for the
crimes that they perpetrated, through both an active and proactive Western
Australia Police Force and increased supports for people in the community so that,
for victims, they can bring perpetrators to account.
The fact of the matter is that we
have an increased prison population. We make no apology for that. That is an
important part of keeping the community safe. We will continue to look at more
opportunities for how we can continue to expand our prison estate to ensure
that we provide appropriate accommodation. The decisions on what the Bullsbrook
facility will be used for will be the Commonwealth's alone.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The Bullsbrook facility belongs to the
Commonwealth government. I know that there is a range of proposals on what that
facility should be used for.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: It will not surprise people to know
that we are part of the conversations around that range of options and
possibilities for the future use of the Bullsbrook facility. We have made it
very clear that a homelessness shelter at the Bullsbrook facility is not an
appropriate use of that asset. We know that people who face homelessness
predominantly face a complex range of social issues, which requires a complex
range of social supports to ensure that we can keep them safe. The Bullsbrook
facility, by its very purpose, is an isolated facility with high-security
values right around that physical asset. That is what it was designed for—to
keep people in, not let them out, and provide minimal supports in relation to
it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The state government is continually
reviewing options to manage the prison population and will continue to make
sure that we look at every option we can to ensure that we can meet the needs
of that population. The fact of the matter is that this facility is in an
isolated area, far from essential services such as shopping centres, schools,
public transport and community hubs—the very things that people who are facing
homelessness need in their lives. We have also recently heard from the leading
homelessness service provider and advocate, Shelter WA, that the Bullsbrook
facility is not appropriate for crisis or longer term accommodation. That
reinforces what the state government has said for a long
time—that it was designed as an isolation site and lacks the infrastructure and
supports needed to properly assist people who are experiencing homelessness.
(1)–(2) Of course, the minister did no such
thing. We did confirm that we are considering a range of options in relation to
our growing prison population. Part of that is the construction of beds, which
is already underway—around 373 extra beds through the stage 2 expansion of
Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds that were delivered in stage 1.
We continue to invest, with $181 million to expand Acacia Prison, which
will provide an additional 320 beds. We have invested over $426 million
in youth detention since 2022. This includes a $158 million commitment for
a new youth detention facility to replace unit 18 at Casuarina. The fact
of the matter is that between 2016 and 2024, Western Australia's population grew
by 17%. In addition, the government during that time was serious about cracking
down on family and domestic violence to make sure that people paid for the
crimes that they perpetrated, through both an active and proactive Western
Australia Police Force and increased supports for people in the community so that,
for victims, they can bring perpetrators to account.
The fact of the matter is that we
have an increased prison population. We make no apology for that. That is an
important part of keeping the community safe. We will continue to look at more
opportunities for how we can continue to expand our prison estate to ensure
that we provide appropriate accommodation. The decisions on what the Bullsbrook
facility will be used for will be the Commonwealth's alone.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The Bullsbrook facility belongs to the
Commonwealth government. I know that there is a range of proposals on what that
facility should be used for.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: It will not surprise people to know
that we are part of the conversations around that range of options and
possibilities for the future use of the Bullsbrook facility. We have made it
very clear that a homelessness shelter at the Bullsbrook facility is not an
appropriate use of that asset. We know that people who face homelessness
predominantly face a complex range of social issues, which requires a complex
range of social supports to ensure that we can keep them safe. The Bullsbrook
facility, by its very purpose, is an isolated facility with high-security
values right around that physical asset. That is what it was designed for—to
keep people in, not let them out, and provide minimal supports in relation to
it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: The state government is continually
reviewing options to manage the prison population and will continue to make
sure that we look at every option we can to ensure that we can meet the needs
of that population. The fact of the matter is that this facility is in an
isolated area, far from essential services such as shopping centres, schools,
public transport and community hubs—the very things that people who are facing
homelessness need in their lives. We have also recently heard from the leading
homelessness service provider and advocate, Shelter WA, that the Bullsbrook
facility is not appropriate for crisis or longer term accommodation. That
reinforces what the state government has said for a long
time—that it was designed as an isolation site and lacks the infrastructure and
supports needed to properly assist people who are experiencing homelessness.
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