Corrective services—Prisons
25. Mr Adam Hort to the Minister for Corrective Services:
May I congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your ascension. It has been wonderful to work with you in the past, being from neighbouring electorates. Despite being on opposite sides of the floor, I look forward to working with you for the east of Perth.
I refer to media reports about a new $1 billion secret prison being planned and I note that the Premier in March denied knowledge of the plan.
(1) When was the minister briefed on a plan for the new prison?
(2) What is the estimated cost for a new prison?
(3) Has the government decided to proceed with the new prison?
Mr Paul Papalia replied:
I thank the member for his question.
(1)–(3) It is the nature of secrets that they are secret. Sadly, member, there is no secret plan. I can tell the member that work is being done by the department on a global accommodation infrastructure proposal to accommodate the increasing prison population. There has been significant growth in recent years and as a consequence, a range of measures are being implemented right now. There is an immediate response, a mid-term response and a longer proposal, all of which are part of a proposal by the agency, but it has not yet come to us for consideration. What the member saw, I think, during the caretaker period was a story generated by prison officers and is not reflective of any secret agenda.
26. Mr Adam Hort to the Minister for Corrective Services:
I have a supplementary question. How could staff at Casuarina Prison be briefed on the plan for a new prison before a decision by government was made?
Mr Paul Papalia replied:
As I said, no plan has been presented to government. No-one has a briefing on anything, other than what might be speculation around the need for a prison and a discussion amongst prison officers who naturally have an interest in these matters. With regard to an amount or anything of that nature that might be appended to building a new prison, I think that the member will find it is just someone who has speculated and thrown a number out there, and it makes a good story.
The Speaker: That concludes question time.
