Thursday, 12 May 2022

Youth justice staff safety

Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:17): My question is to the Minister for Workplace Safety. Minister, I refer to recent reports that two of the most senior managers at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre were seriously assaulted while at work last month and had to be hospitalised, one with multiple facial fractures, a broken jaw, two broken eye sockets and an injured shoulder—the injuries being so severe he may never be able to work again. Minister, what action will you take to make workers in the youth justice system safe?

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:17): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. Can I say up-front that work-related violence and aggression is never okay. I am obviously aware of the issues that have happened in our youth justice and corrections facilities, and the Andrews Labor government and WorkSafe Victoria are committed to the prevention of those sorts of incidents occurring and of course to supporting workers who are faced with injury in the workplace and injuries of this nature.

The staff in our corrections facilities, including youth justice facilities, are working in very complex situations. They are incredibly dedicated and capable, but they are working with some of our young people who have got particularly complex needs. Of course they do an amazing job, so I just want to acknowledge that. WorkSafe has been working very closely with the Department of Justice and Community Safety and with the CPSU, the union that represents corrections and youth justice staff, because we want to ensure that we are doing whatever we can to make sure that these risks are mitigated.

I know that the Minister for Corrections has been working very hard in this area to make sure that with the new investments in corrections in Victoria staff safety is a key feature of some of the new facilities that are being built, for example. But from my perspective as workplace safety minister I know that WorkSafe have been very responsive to these issues and are very engaged in making sure that they are working with all duty holders to mitigate the risk for these hardworking staff in our corrections facilities.

Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:19): Thank you, Minister, for that response. Of course for many, many years, as this chamber knows only too well, there have been many, many issues under the Andrews government in the youth justice system—pizza and Coke, all of those issues that we had to go through a few years ago. But, Minister, Daniel Andrews said in announcing your appointment:

In this role, Ms Stitt will continue our Government’s commitment to making our workplaces safer and ensuring every worker makes it home to their loved ones.

But under the Daniel Andrews government, traumatised youth justice workers are scared to go to work—to a dangerously unsafe workplace, as they say—with assaults happening every second day. One worker said she witnessed two of her colleagues go home in an ambulance after an instance involving a cricket bat. Is this what a safe workplace looks like under the Andrews government?

Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:20): I thank Ms Crozier for her supplementary question. I have already said very clearly that these sorts of incidents are completely unacceptable in any workplace. As workplace safety minister I have a very high expectation that WorkSafe will be undertaking their role as—

Ms Crozier interjected.

Ms STITT: I do not know that you need to remind me about the importance of speaking to workers, Ms Crozier, so let us not reinvent history here. I can indicate—

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Thank you, members. The call is with the minister.

Ms STITT: These are incredibly important issues, and I want to reassure the house that WorkSafe are absolutely focused on making sure that our staff in corrections right across the state are given the support that they deserve, and they are actively involved in making sure that duty holders are mitigating the risks. These are very complex workplaces, but nothing excuses the kinds of assaults that we have seen, and I am committed to making sure that that is— (Time expired)