Media Statements: Statements http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx RSS feed for the Statements list. Department of the Premier and Cabinet Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:24:02 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 list Media Statements: Statements /_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx Further 640 beds announced for prison system http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132714 Content:

The State Government today announced a further 640 beds to be added to the prison system by mid next year.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the beds would be added as part of additional accommodation units at Casuarina, Albany and Greenough and were above and beyond the 600 beds promised in the May State Budget.

 

“The Government is already well on track to completing the 600 beds promised in the Budget, with 353 (as at October 20) currently in operation,” Mr Porter said.

 

“What this means is that by mid next year, the Liberal-National Government will have added more than 1,200 additional beds to Western Australia’s prison system.”

 

The Minister said the additional accommodation units were an innovative and immediate solution to help ease overcrowding in WA in the short term.

 

“The temporary units will consist of 320 cells, double-bunked and have a lifespan of about 10 years.

 

“Importantly, the construction of the units will not require additional Government funding.”

 

Mr Porter said the Government was able to find a $60million saving in the cost of expanding Acacia prison and those funds could now be used to significantly and efficiently expand the prison system throughout metropolitan and regional WA.

 

A significant portion of the savings would go towards recruiting more prison officers as well as creating the additional beds:

 

·                $48million for the additional accommodation units, including all necessary amenities, power, water, waste and security

·                $11.25million to recruit and train additional prison officers

·                $750,000 to expand capacity at the Corrective Services Training Academy.

 

“It’s an unfortunate fact that the previous Labor Government basically ignored our prisons and the people in them for its entire eight years in government,” the Minister said.

 

“They focused on ways to keep offenders out of jail and on our streets and ignored the need for additional infrastructure.

 

“That strategy clearly failed the community and the corrective services system.

 

“The Liberal-National Government has acted decisively and quickly to build additional beds, accommodation units and entire prisons to address the overcrowding problem.

 

“Our strategy is very simple:  We will not apologise for taking high-risk offenders off our streets and we are committed to investing in our prison system through dramatically increased infrastructure and proper education, employment and rehabilitation programs to help break the cycle of recidivism.”

 

Mr Porter said the accommodation units would complement the Government’s unprecedented $655million allocation in the May State Budget to create 1,657 beds in the prison system by 2014.

 

“This includes the 150-bed West Kimberley Prison; the 80-bed Young Adults Prison; the 350-bed Eastern Goldfields Prison; the 387-bed expansion at Acacia; and two new work camps in the Wheatbelt and Warburton region,” he said.

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050
Date: 1/11/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: South Eastern Suburbs;Great Southern;Mid West
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:39:32 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132714 Wheatbelt work camp expressions of interest now open http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132702 Content:

Nominations are now open for expressions of interest from community organisations and all Wheatbelt local governments to host a purpose-built prisoner work camp.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the permanent work camp would be built to house 20 minimum-security prisoners in the heart of a Wheatbelt community.

 

“In the future, this camp will manage a number of small satellite camps to allow prisoners to undertake work in other communities, as well as short periods in more remote locations via mobile work groups,” Mr Porter said.

 

“The proposed camp will, for the first time, allow offenders on community-based orders to access the camp and its services in order to meet sentencing requirements, including programs and community work.

 

The Minister said being offered a place at a work camp was a privilege for prisoners but it was no free ride.

 

“The prisoners are required to work to the standards expected by the community,” he said.

 

“They can work on a range of projects from infrastructure, environmental and heritage work to disaster relief in local communities, usually for not-for-profit organisations.

 

“Each year work camp prisoners repay Western Australian communities with some 75,000 hours of work, worth nearly $1million.”

 

Site selection should be completed by July 2010 with the work camp ready for operation early in 2011.


Applications close on Tuesday, December 15. To discuss the proposed work camp and future development phone Peter Zappelli, Wheatbelt Work Camp Project Officer on 9264 1098. For more information visit, http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au and follow the links under Adults in Custody.

 

Minister's office  - 9220 5050
Date: 28/10/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Wheatbelt
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:28:47 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132702 Opening of new Karratha Community and Youth Justice Centre http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132581 Content:

After 12 years operating from temporary accommodation, the new Karratha Community and Youth Justice (CYJ) Centre will officially open today as part of the Pilbara Justice Complex.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the new centre would better serve the more than 1,000 juveniles and adult offenders who came under its supervision.

 

“For the past 12 years, the Karratha CYJ office was operating from demountable and leased office accommodation, which was fundamentally inadequate and sub-standard, placing limitations on the services which could be offered,” Mr Porter said.

 

“Today we see the future of integrated justice services for the Pilbara community.

 

“The new facilities will allow 26 Department of Corrective Services’ staff to address the needs of adult offenders and provide tailored services to juveniles in the Pilbara.

 

“This is essential if we want to not only supervise offenders but address and eradicate the underlying causes of offending and anti-social behaviour.”

 

The centre will operate as part of the Pilbara Justice Complex, which also includes WA Police and the Karratha Courthouse.

 

In the future, other agencies such as the Pilbara Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Program will operate from the complex, providing a wide range of services to the community.

 

“The centre and the complex in which it is housed will ensure that appropriate services are accessible to all people, and these grow with community needs,” the Minister said.

 

The Karratha CYJ office provides the regional administrative management team for the four Pilbara offices including Newman, South Hedland and Roebourne.

Services extend across more than 500,000 sq km and include remote towns and communities.

In 2008-09, there were 430 adults and 663 youths who began new supervision orders in the Pilbara.

The new Karratha CYJ Centre will provide:

·          the assessment and case management of adult and young offenders in the community 

·          support for the reintegration of adult and young offenders released from custodial settings

·          facilities for the rehabilitation of adult and young offenders, through case management and referral to service providers

·          timely advice about adult and young offenders to sentencing and releasing authorities.

 

Minister's office  - 9220 5050
 
Date: 7/10/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Pilbara
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:09:21 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132581 New women’s precinct offers new hope at Broome Regional Prison http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132582 Content:

Women prisoners at Broome Regional Prison will be given a greater focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into the community after today’s opening of a dedicated women’s precinct.

 

Officially opening the precinct, Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the facilities were designed and suited to the unique needs of women in custody.

 

“The precinct aims to provide women with a safe and secure environment in which to undertake activities aimed at addressing their offending behaviour,” Mr Porter said.

 

“It is an important symbol of the State Government’s commitment to strengthening the service delivery to, and providing fair and humane conditions for, female prisoners.”

 

The new precinct contains four cells, including one specifically modified as a mother and baby cell; an open-plan kitchen; a dining room; a day room; a multi-purpose classroom; and indoor and outdoor recreation areas.

 

The Minister said Broome Regional Prison had been criticised over the years for its lack of facilities for women prisoners.

 

“In the past, women have been required to share education and program facilities with men as there was no dedicated women’s precinct,” he said.

 

“The new facility will take the standard of accommodation at Broome Regional Prison to a new level and provide a distinct area for women to not only live but take part in necessary educational and rehabilitative programs.

 

“By continually improving facilities and programs, and by providing opportunities to support women offenders, the State Government can offer the best possible chance at rehabilitation.”

 

The new women’s precinct is the third stage of an $11.2million project to upgrade the Broome Regional Prison, its existing facilities and security systems.

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050
 
Date: 7/10/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Kimberley
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:15:43 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132582 Liberal-National Government gets tough on community work orders http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132295 Content:

Offenders on community work orders will be more visible to the public with Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter launching the new Repay WA vest today.

 

Yellow vests worn by all outdoor adult community work parties are designed to increase public awareness and confidence in community work as an effective sentencing tool.

 

“For the public to view community work as an appropriate sentencing tool, they need to see the work carried out as ordered by the courts,” Mr Porter said.

 

“These vests are about restoring confidence in community-based orders and ensuring the public can see the benefits of the court-ordered work in their local communities.”

 

The Minister said that under the Liberal-National Government, compliance rates for community work had already increased.

 

“Compliance has risen from 40 per cent in June 2008 to 55 per cent in June 2009 as a result of measures taken by the State Government, and we expect that rise to continue,” he said.

 

“Unfortunately, under the previous Labor government, the public and the courts lost faith in community work as a meaningful sentencing tool because Labor failed to manage it effectively.

 

“In 2007-08, Western Australia had the lowest completion rates in Australia with

44 per cent of offenders failing to complete their community work orders.

 

“The Liberal-National Government will do what it takes to restore public confidence in the justice system.

 

“We will turn community work in WA from what was the lowest performing system in Australia under Labor to the most stringent system in the country and part of that is making it visible.”

 

“Corrective Services is already enforcing community work standards more stringently and in the next six months we will finalise a tough new breach system, designed to crack down on offenders failing to turn up to their work orders.

 

“Under Labor, offenders were only breached if they failed to turn up to community work three times in a row, which meant many offenders missed large numbers of appointments without ever being breached.

 

“Under this Government, if an offender fails to turn up on any two occasions they will be breached and they will be back at court for re-sentencing.”

 

Mr Porter said he expected the implementation of the new breach system to be fully implemented by mid-2010.

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050
 
 

Note

 

The Repay WA vests have been printed by prisoners at Casuarina Prison at a cost of approximately $1.60 each.

 

Offenders on community work orders have been working at Tamala Park since 2006 with about 500 adult and juvenile offenders providing about 3,500 hours of community work at a value of about $50,000 to the community.

 

Working in supervised work groups, offenders repair and restore discarded bicycles which are donated to disadvantaged children each Christmas.

 

The Repay WA plaque unveiled today is one of several already seen at the site of community work projects across the State and others will be laid throughout the year providing a visible symbol to the community of the work offenders can provide.

Date: 1/08/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:57:14 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132295 Government delivers new Eastern Goldfields prison http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131881 Content:

The Liberal-National Government’s tough stance on law and order has received a boost with the announcement of a much-needed 350-bed prison for the Eastern Goldfields.

 

The multi-million dollar project is part of the State Government’s $655million custodial infrastructure program - the most significant prison program in Western Australia’s history.

 

The custodial infrastructure program will create 1,657 new prisoner beds, with significant proportion of these scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. The result will be an intended net gain of more than 1,500 beds in the system.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison would provide a replacement for the existing significantly overcrowded Goldfields prison, which was in poor condition.

 

“The new prison, which represents a substantial regional investment, will be a modern, mixed gender, all security facility designed to keep Goldfields offenders close to their communities,” Mr Porter said.

 

“It will provide a net extra 250 beds in the Goldfields region and improve the overall level of custodial services, highlighting this Government’s support for regional communities.

 

“Importantly, it will be designed to engage indigenous prisoners in culturally-appropriate programs and courses and, for the first time in the region, address female prisoners’ needs.”

 

The Minister said he anticipated completion of the prison by the end of 2013.

 

“We need to act to ease the critical overcrowding within the WA prison system - an unfortunate legacy of the previous Labor government - and to address the growing need for secure prisoner accommodation in the area,” he said.

 

“Overall the Liberal-National Government will have increased the State’s prison capacity by 40 per cent.

 

“The new facilities clearly demonstrate how this State Government plans to address the conditions and overcrowding in WA prisons and will provide, during the construction phase, significant boost to regional employment

 

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050 
Date: 15/05/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Goldfields/Esperance
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 15 May 2009 00:44:09 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131881 State Budget 2009-10: New work camps to offer improved regional justice facilities http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131864 Content:

Two new multi-million dollar work camps will be built in regional Western Australia this year to increase capacity in the State’s overcrowded prison system.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said Warburton had been identified as a suitable site for a new $17million, 30-bed minimum security facility within the Goldfields region, while a Wheatbelt site for a new 20-bed camp, estimated to cost $8.5million, will be determined in consultation with the local community. 

 

Construction for both work camps is expected to be completed in 2011.

 

“The Liberal-National Government has recognised the need to plan for the State’s future and invest in infrastructure that will create local jobs and pour money into our communities,” Mr Porter said.

 

The Minister said the new work camps, and a replacement 40-bed camp at Wyndham, would operate differently from the State’s present work camp sites.

 

“The new camps will, for the first time, offer opportunities for community-based offenders to undertake their community work,” he said.

 

“Some offenders in the community will now be required to visit the work camps to undertake a number of activities, including programs, making more effective use of limited resources in the State’s remote and regional areas and keeping offenders close to their communities.

 

“Not only will this Government provide more beds for the prison system but we will also deliver a service focused on rehabilitation and breaking the offending cycle whilst helping with community projects.”

 

The purpose-built facilities would operate as correctional centres, where a wide range of justice activities can be provided beyond the current scope of work camps. 

 

These will include education and program facilities.

 

“There will be greater options for Aboriginal people’s involvement in diversion from prison options including supervised bail, parole and the completion of community service orders,” Mr Porter.

 

“The new work camps will provide training and skills acquisition programs aimed at helping the transition of prisoners’ into their communities and break the cycle of offending.

 

“The camps will provide useful work initiatives for prisoners and community-based offenders - providing reparation for communities in WA’s remote and regional locations.”

 

The work camps form part of the Government’s strategy to address the State’s overcrowded prison system. 

 

With the government’s proposed changes, places will be available for more than 900 prisoners in work camps and prison farms spread across Western Australia.

 

A total of $655million has been allocated across the forward estimates to create 1,657 prisoner beds for the WA prison system the largest custodial accommodation program in the State’s history. The result will be an intended net gain of more than 1,500 beds in the system.

 

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050
Date: 14/05/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Eastern Metropolitan;Gascoyne;Goldfields/Esperance;Great Southern;Kimberley;Mid West;Northern Metro & Perth CBD;Peel;Pilbara;South Eastern Suburbs;South West;South Western Suburbs;Western Suburbs;Wheatbelt
]]> Antartis, Jill Thu, 14 May 2009 08:31:44 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131864 State Budget 2009-10: Big boost to prison bed numbers http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131867 Content:

The Liberal-National Government’s action to ease conditions in the State’s overcrowded prison system will provide an additional 600 beds by the end of the 2009-10 financial year.

 

Announcing the new strategy today, Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the 600 beds would consist of a mix of double bunking, new demountable accommodation and refurbishment of previously decommissioned cells.

 

“The $12million, 600-bed program will provide fast relief to a prison system Labor left bursting at the seams,” Mr Porter said.

 

“With the previous Labor government choosing to ignore the very real problem of overcrowding, the Liberal-National Government has had to act swiftly to immediately ease the pressure in our prison system.”

 

The modified design capacity of the Western Australian prison system, taking into account multiple-cell strategies already in place at some facilities, stood at 4,217 at the end of April 2009 with more than 4,100 prisoners - almost 100 per cent capacity.

 

The Minister said the extra 600 beds were the beginning of a program aimed at easing the overcrowding and planning for the future prison population.

 

“This Government will create 1,657 new beds by the end of 2013,” he said.

 

“With an intended net gain of more than 1,500 beds, this is the most significant custodial accommodation program in the State’s history.”

 

“We will spend $655million on the total custodial infrastructure program, not only fixing the system for today but preparing it for the future - something the last government critically failed to do.”

 

Of the initial 600 beds, the first 493 beds are due for commissioning between July and December this year, while the remaining 107 are scheduled for completion by June 2010. 

 

Prisoners will carry out much of the construction.

 

“The 600 bed strategy is a cost-effective solution which can be quickly implemented,” Mr Porter said.

 

The beds are to be distributed across the State’s facilities at Acacia, Albany, Bunbury, Greenough, Woorooloo and Pardelup prisons. Additional services and infrastructure would be addressed on an individual site basis.

 

Purpose-built demountable accommodation is planned for Karnet Prison Farm and the new cells within these units would be double bunked. While cells at Pardelup Prison Farm are to be refurbished, expanding the prison farm and ensuring it meets current and future standards.

 

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050
Date: 14/05/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Eastern Metropolitan;Gascoyne;Goldfields/Esperance;Great Southern;Kimberley;Mid West;Northern Metro & Perth CBD;Peel;Pilbara;South Eastern Suburbs;South West;South Western Suburbs;Western Suburbs;Wheatbelt
]]> Antartis, Jill Thu, 14 May 2009 08:39:35 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131867 State Budget 2009-10: Young adults’ prison addressing specific needs http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131886 Content:

The specific needs of 18 to 22-year-old male offenders will be addressed in a young adults’ prison set for completion by the end of 2011.

 

The 80-bed prison will be located at the Rangeview Remand Centre in Murdoch.  All juveniles currently housed at Rangeview will be moved to new facilities within the Banksia Hill Detention Centre.

 

The prison, which is expected to cost $36.3million, will be the first of its kind in Western Australia.

 

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the State Government was prepared to try new approaches to break the cycle of reoffending.

 

“Clearly the previous Labor government left the justice system in a state of disrepair,”

Mr Porter said.

 

“Traditional approaches are not working and the State Government wants to take out those young people most at risk of being influenced by hard-core offenders in the mainstream population and put them in a separate facility.

 

“This means we can focus specifically on their needs and break a cycle of offending.

 

“Although a young person of 18 years is legally an adult, many 18 to 22-year-old male offenders lack maturity, are often impulsive, take risks and are easily led by others.

 

“They have special needs and vulnerabilities and these needs are not best met within the mainstream system or when they are allowed to associate with older offending adults.  This new prison will address that issue.”

 

The Minister said the young adults’ prison would focus on preparing people for employment.

 

“Young adult male offenders re-offend at a higher rate than any other group of criminals,” he said.

 

“The prison will focus on employment, structured days, training, offence-specific programs and health, among other interventions, to respond directly to the needs of the 18 to 22-year age group.

 

“Importantly it will also address issues of drug and alcohol abuse, learning and social issues and homelessness - often barriers in this age group to effective rehabilitation.

 

“The high numbers of Aboriginal offenders means any strategy to address young male prisoners will need to focus on Aboriginal-specific education and training and health issues appropriate to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.”

 

The multi-million dollar capital works at Banksia Hill that will enable Rangeview to be used as a young adults’ prison are part of the Government’s $655 million custodial infrastructure plan - the most significant custodial accommodation program in the State’s history.

 

A total of 1,657 prisoner beds will be created under the program, a significant proportion of which are expected to be available by the end of 2011. The result will be an intended net gain of more than 1,500 beds.

 

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/

 

Minister's office- 9222 5050
Date: 14/05/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Eastern Metropolitan;Gascoyne;Goldfields/Esperance;Great Southern;Kimberley;Mid West;Northern Metro & Perth CBD;Peel;Pilbara;South Eastern Suburbs;South West;South Western Suburbs;Western Suburbs;Wheatbelt
]]> Antartis, Jill Mon, 18 May 2009 03:45:10 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131886 Media response - prisons http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131385 Content:
Questions asked by:  The West Australian
 
Subject:  Prisons
 
Minister's response:
 

Christian Porter has said that increasing capacity in WA prisons has been his first priority as Minister for Corrective Services.

 

“Labor failed to build one new prison for the entire eight years it was in Government,” Mr Porter said.

 

“Within the first three months of the Liberal-National Government being in power, we have approved a new 150 bed prison in Derby – 50 beds larger than the Labor’s plan.

 

“Construction will start as soon as the wet season ends.

 

“Infrastructure cannot be built overnight and it cannot be built without allocations of sufficient funds in the 2009/10 budget and in the following out years.

 

“There were no funds allocated by Labor in the 2009/10 year for the sort of expansion that is clearly needed. 

 

“It is impossible to start building a prison without having inherited any designs, or budgetary funds or any planning whatsoever from the previous government. 

 

“The immediate action that has been undertaken by my office has been to develop business plans for several new and separate large prison builds, as well as business plans for an expansion in the work camp network. 

 

“By the time of the budget we will have completed the planning for the State’s largest ever prison infrastructure project. We will have done in four months what Labor failed to do in eight years of government.

 

“The size, location and costs of each of the proposed new prisons and work camps will be announced with the budget. 

 

“Importantly, the plans that are now almost complete have been specifically drafted so that the actual constructions for some of the projects will start very soon after the budget.

 

“This will not only allow for the alleviation of prison overcrowding it will also represent a significant investment in Western Australia’s infrastructure and provide jobs at a time of global economic downturn.

 

“Labor’s only real response to prison overcrowding was a ‘prisoner reduction strategy’ which did not work and which diminished the people’s confidence in the criminal justice system.

 

“I can say categorically that I would never consider the option of encouraging the judiciary to be more lenient in the granting of bail or in sentencing. The suggestion is absurd.”

 

Minister's office - 9220 5050

 

Date: 19/02/2009
Minister: Porter
Portfolio: Corrective Services
Region: Eastern Metropolitan;Northern Metro & Perth CBD;South Eastern Suburbs;South Western Suburbs;Western Suburbs
]]> Antartis, Jill Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:39:30 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=131385