Minister in crosshairs as damning report lays bare ‘systemic failure’ in WA prisons

A damning report highlighting a “systemic failure across multiple prisons” in WA has been seized on by the opposition, which has called for the resignation of Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia.

The report, released on Tuesday by Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan, revealed deteriorating conditions at Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca prisons, and led to Ryan issuing a show cause notice.

In the report, Ryan draws parallels between the current state of the prison system and the conditions that led to the Greenough Regional Prison riot in 2018, where 10 prisoners escaped and several officers were injured in the state’s Mid West.

A subsequent investigation found an increase in lockdowns, staff shortfalls, and a lack of engagement had been key elements that contributed to the Greenough riot, during which male prisoners had also used stolen angle grinders to break into the female inmates’ unit.

On Tuesday, Ryan identified serious risks to the safety, security and wellbeing of prisoners, with conditions in some cases potentially amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

“Sustained population growth and workforce shortfalls have driven overcrowding, routine lockdowns and restricted access to services, increasing levels of harm across the system,” the inspector’s report states.

Ryan said WA’s prison problems were no longer confined to a single facility.

“Current conditions pose a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of both prisoners and staff, and in some cases may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” he said.

“The system is operating beyond its capacity, with overcrowding, workforce pressures and restrictive regimes now embedded as the norm.”

WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the report showed Papalia was not up to the job as corrective services minister.

“He should be gone. This is unacceptable,” Zempilas said.

“This has happened on this minister’s watch, and now we have an unprecedented show cause notice that suggests we are on the verge of returning to the circumstances that were caused in 2018 and led to the Greenough riots.

“When the inspector himself says that we are verging on returning to the sort of circumstances that back in 2018 caused the Greenough riot.

“Every West Australian has absolute cause to be horrified and alarmed, and the responses from the minister in question time just now were wholly unsatisfactory.”

Opposition corrective services spokesman Adam Hort said the WA prison estate was in crisis, with no plan in place to fix the current issues.

“The key recommendation in this report is to get the most important governmental department stakeholders together and prepare a plan, and get that approved by the government,” he said.

“Now, not even that has happened. That is a very, very basic recommendation.

“We see a piecemeal approach to what is a complete crisis in one of the most important community safety mechanisms that this government oversees.”

Papalia said the prison population in WA was experiencing an unprecedented period of growth.

“The state government acknowledges the findings of the Inspector of Custodial Services and, importantly, has already acted with significant reforms, workforce initiatives, and infrastructure investments already underway,” he said.

“The state budget included a $56.8 million custodial infrastructure package to increase capacity, strengthen system resilience, and support safer operations across the prison estate.

The government is progressing both immediate measures to relieve pressure and long-term projects to meet future demand.“

Papalia added that the Department of Justice also training prison officers at a record rate, with the goal of recruiting and training 400 per year.

“Western Australia has experienced unprecedented prisoner population growth in recent years driven by tough laws that are helping keep communities safe,” he said.

In the recent state budget, more than $300 million additional expenditure has been promised on justice and corrective services, including prison operations and initiatives to manage prison population growth.

An additional $87.7 million has also been allocated for new and upgraded prison infrastructure, including a further expansion of Acacia Prison.

However, following the budget announcement, WAPOU acting secretary Beven Hanlon said while he welcomed the staff security upgrades, a new prison facility was primarily needed.