October 26, 2018 CCC finds Minister unable to stem corruption in WA prisons Shadow Minister for Corrective Services Zak Kirkup has called on the Premier to step in and deal with corruption in Western Australia’s prisons in the wake of a damning Corruption Crime Commission report. Mr Kirkup said the Report into misconduct risks in WA prisons not only pointed to long-term serious corruption issues within the State’s prisons but, more seriously, highlighted an unwillingness on the part of the Minister for Corrective Service Fran Logan to deal with the issue. “The report found very little progress had been made on recommendations from a number of previous inquiries into corruption within the prison system and that since 2016, 23 matters relating to corrective services officers been serious enough to need oversight by the commission,” Mr Kirkup said. “After almost two years as Corrective Services Minister, Fran Logan has shown he is not capable of providing the leadership and accountability our prison system urgently needs. “This report makes it clear the lack of action by the Minister is now putting the safety of our prisons and broader community at risk. “This is what happens when you have a Minister whose first priority is to the powerful prison officers union that funds and supports his election campaign every four years.” Mr Kirkup said the report was a massive vote of no confidence in the Minister and it was time for the Premier to step in and provide leadership and a roadmap to reform in WA’s prison system. “It is clear Mr Logan cannot be relied on to provide leadership, it’s now time for the Premier to take charge,” Mr Kirkup said. “Minister Logan had been more focused on returning control and oversight of the prison system to the union-controlled workforce rather than ensuring it was run efficiently and honestly. “The Minister not only dissolved the WA Police Force Prison Team, which was put in place by the former Government to deal with corruption, but has taken no action to implement most of the 34 recommendations made by the team,” Mr Kirkup said. “This is also the Minister that removed random drug testing in prisons, oversaw the biggest prison breakout in the history of the State and still has not provided adequate answers as to how that happened or whether such a breakout could happen again.” Ends |
