❓ Question regarding budget allocation for Hakea Prison capacity. Minister refutes claim of no funding, detailing investments in prison expansion and justice reform initiatives to alleviate pressure on Hakea.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 295Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Hakea Prison—Capacity—Judicial comment295.Mr Adam Hortto
theMinister for Corrective Services:I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that there is nothing in this
budget to increase capacity or relieve pressure at Hakea Prison?Mr Paul Papalia replied:Mr Speaker, no, I cannot,
because that would not be true. There is a range of measures in the budget—measures
we have already taken to increase capacity across the prison estate, which
ultimately eases pressure on Hakea because it is the primary remand prison. If you
build capacity further downstream of the maximum-security remand prison, you open
up opportunity to move people out of that remand prison. As members have heard
many times before, there is already underway a $254 million increase in
capacity by 373 beds at Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds
already delivered in stage 1 of the Casuarina expansion. We recently
committed $181.1 million to expand Acacia Prison, which will provide an
extra 320 beds. There is $158 million set aside in this budget for a new
youth detention facility. There is some $26 million for justice reform
initiatives, which is a whole range of measures across—Several members interjected.Mr Paul Papalia:Sorry; there is a bit of murmuring
from the other side of the chamber!The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:Speak up, Leader of the Opposition; I
cannot hear you.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
ask a question, at the next opportunity stand up and ask it. In the meantime,
stop interjecting on the minister.Mr Paul Papalia:The member asked whether I could
confirm that there is nothing in the budget to address overcrowding at Hakea
Prison. I said no, because that is not true.Apart from the
things that I have referred to, there is also $26 million for justice
reform initiatives right across a whole range of areas of endeavour that will result
in a reduction in overcrowding and challenges for Hakea Prison. A lot of it is
actually in the courts, which are contributing to overcrowding in prisons
because of their inability to address cases at the pace required, resulting in
people being remanded to custody rather than being dealt with through
sentencing or released on bail. A range of measures in the budget are funded by
an additional $26 million across the forward estimates to achieve outcomes
focused on reducing overcrowding in Hakea.
Hakea Prison—Capacity—Judicial comment
295.Mr Adam Hortto
theMinister for Corrective Services:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that there is nothing in this
budget to increase capacity or relieve pressure at Hakea Prison?
Mr Paul Papalia replied:
Mr Speaker, no, I cannot,
because that would not be true. There is a range of measures in the budget—measures
we have already taken to increase capacity across the prison estate, which
ultimately eases pressure on Hakea because it is the primary remand prison. If you
build capacity further downstream of the maximum-security remand prison, you open
up opportunity to move people out of that remand prison. As members have heard
many times before, there is already underway a $254 million increase in
capacity by 373 beds at Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds
already delivered in stage 1 of the Casuarina expansion. We recently
committed $181.1 million to expand Acacia Prison, which will provide an
extra 320 beds. There is $158 million set aside in this budget for a new
youth detention facility. There is some $26 million for justice reform
initiatives, which is a whole range of measures across—
Several members interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia:Sorry; there is a bit of murmuring
from the other side of the chamber!
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Paul Papalia:Speak up, Leader of the Opposition; I
cannot hear you.
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
ask a question, at the next opportunity stand up and ask it. In the meantime,
stop interjecting on the minister.
Mr Paul Papalia:The member asked whether I could
confirm that there is nothing in the budget to address overcrowding at Hakea
Prison. I said no, because that is not true.
Apart from the
things that I have referred to, there is also $26 million for justice
reform initiatives right across a whole range of areas of endeavour that will result
in a reduction in overcrowding and challenges for Hakea Prison. A lot of it is
actually in the courts, which are contributing to overcrowding in prisons
because of their inability to address cases at the pace required, resulting in
people being remanded to custody rather than being dealt with through
sentencing or released on bail. A range of measures in the budget are funded by
an additional $26 million across the forward estimates to achieve outcomes
focused on reducing overcrowding in Hakea.
theMinister for Corrective Services:I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that there is nothing in this
budget to increase capacity or relieve pressure at Hakea Prison?Mr Paul Papalia replied:Mr Speaker, no, I cannot,
because that would not be true. There is a range of measures in the budget—measures
we have already taken to increase capacity across the prison estate, which
ultimately eases pressure on Hakea because it is the primary remand prison. If you
build capacity further downstream of the maximum-security remand prison, you open
up opportunity to move people out of that remand prison. As members have heard
many times before, there is already underway a $254 million increase in
capacity by 373 beds at Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds
already delivered in stage 1 of the Casuarina expansion. We recently
committed $181.1 million to expand Acacia Prison, which will provide an
extra 320 beds. There is $158 million set aside in this budget for a new
youth detention facility. There is some $26 million for justice reform
initiatives, which is a whole range of measures across—Several members interjected.Mr Paul Papalia:Sorry; there is a bit of murmuring
from the other side of the chamber!The Speaker:Members!Mr Paul Papalia:Speak up, Leader of the Opposition; I
cannot hear you.Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
ask a question, at the next opportunity stand up and ask it. In the meantime,
stop interjecting on the minister.Mr Paul Papalia:The member asked whether I could
confirm that there is nothing in the budget to address overcrowding at Hakea
Prison. I said no, because that is not true.Apart from the
things that I have referred to, there is also $26 million for justice
reform initiatives right across a whole range of areas of endeavour that will result
in a reduction in overcrowding and challenges for Hakea Prison. A lot of it is
actually in the courts, which are contributing to overcrowding in prisons
because of their inability to address cases at the pace required, resulting in
people being remanded to custody rather than being dealt with through
sentencing or released on bail. A range of measures in the budget are funded by
an additional $26 million across the forward estimates to achieve outcomes
focused on reducing overcrowding in Hakea.
Hakea Prison—Capacity—Judicial comment
295.Mr Adam Hortto
theMinister for Corrective Services:
I have a
supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that there is nothing in this
budget to increase capacity or relieve pressure at Hakea Prison?
Mr Paul Papalia replied:
Mr Speaker, no, I cannot,
because that would not be true. There is a range of measures in the budget—measures
we have already taken to increase capacity across the prison estate, which
ultimately eases pressure on Hakea because it is the primary remand prison. If you
build capacity further downstream of the maximum-security remand prison, you open
up opportunity to move people out of that remand prison. As members have heard
many times before, there is already underway a $254 million increase in
capacity by 373 beds at Casuarina Prison. That is on top of the 512 beds
already delivered in stage 1 of the Casuarina expansion. We recently
committed $181.1 million to expand Acacia Prison, which will provide an
extra 320 beds. There is $158 million set aside in this budget for a new
youth detention facility. There is some $26 million for justice reform
initiatives, which is a whole range of measures across—
Several members interjected.
Mr Paul Papalia:Sorry; there is a bit of murmuring
from the other side of the chamber!
The Speaker:Members!
Mr Paul Papalia:Speak up, Leader of the Opposition; I
cannot hear you.
Mr Basil Zempilasinterjected.
The Speaker:Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
ask a question, at the next opportunity stand up and ask it. In the meantime,
stop interjecting on the minister.
Mr Paul Papalia:The member asked whether I could
confirm that there is nothing in the budget to address overcrowding at Hakea
Prison. I said no, because that is not true.
Apart from the
things that I have referred to, there is also $26 million for justice
reform initiatives right across a whole range of areas of endeavour that will result
in a reduction in overcrowding and challenges for Hakea Prison. A lot of it is
actually in the courts, which are contributing to overcrowding in prisons
because of their inability to address cases at the pace required, resulting in
people being remanded to custody rather than being dealt with through
sentencing or released on bail. A range of measures in the budget are funded by
an additional $26 million across the forward estimates to achieve outcomes
focused on reducing overcrowding in Hakea.
AnswerView source ↗
⏳
This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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