Updated ,first published
Plans to convert the Bullsbrook quarantine centre into a prison remain live, with WA’s Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce confirming he would be interested in using the $400 million Commonwealth-owned facility if it became available.
In June, former Corrective Services minister Paul Papalia revealed in a letter to nearby Bullsbrook residents that the Department of Justice had begun work on a feasibility study to assess the suitability of the facility as a jail to take the strain off the state’s booming prison population.
Standing alongside new Corrective Services Minister Tony Buti on Wednesday, Royce expressed his interest in the Bullsbrook facility.
“In my role, I’m always looking for opportunities for more space,” he said.
“The Bullsbrook site, the Resilience Centre, is actually a Commonwealth asset, so at this stage, it’s not for me.
“If it gets to a point where that’s available, then yes, I will be interested.”
Asked whether the government was still pursuing Bullsbrook as a prison, Buti replied: “Nothing’s off the cards.”
“As the commissioner said, if that becomes available, it’s Commonwealth property at the moment, we’ll look at it,” he said.
“If we come to a solution, and we do have an announcement to make, I’m sure we’ll let you know.”
The Bullsbrook option has become a lightning rod for controversy with most residents opposed to the plan.
In August, a petition was tabled in Parliament with 165 signatures urging the Cook Government to not proceed with the facility.
The Bullsbrook facility, originally intended to quarantine returning travellers to WA during the COVID-19 pandemic, was finally used for its intended purpose for the first time this year when it housed six Australian and New Zealand passengers on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, which faced a hantavirus outbreak.
The state’s prison population remains a political headache for the Cook government.
In June, Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan issued a “show cause” notice covering Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca prisons – the first time such a notice had been issued for three prisons at once.
In some cases, prisons have been triple-bunking inmates because of overcrowding, which has led to fears from the prison officers’ union that the state’s prison system is a tinderbox.
The state is planning to expand Acacia Prison by 480 beds by 2029 and there is a new youth detention centre under construction.
“It’s no secret that our prison system is under stress,” Buti said.
“We’re working very carefully, closely with Commissioner Royce and the department to look at what we need.”
Royce said he was asking for more remand capacity, but how that looked was still being worked through.
“As a Commissioner, I’ll always say yes, we need more infrastructure, but it’s a matter for government because every agency needs more infrastructure and more services because we’re a growing state,” he said.
“I am asking government, but I’m one of many senior people in government looking for opportunities, and that’s a matter for Treasury and you’d expect that everything’s measured on value for money.”
He said bigger prison infrastructure projects would likely not occur until next decade.
Buti and Royce appeared on Wednesday to announce $100 million to start a new court security arrangement to address regional court closures.
Under the new model, 127 full-time staff will be employed under the Sheriff’s Office to perform security and custody services in regional courts, removing the need for auxiliary police officers to perform those tasks.
“What this will do is free up 45,000 police hours to allow them to attend to other services,” he said.
The Commonwealth Department of Finance was contacted for comment.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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