Youth justice staff safety
Ms BURNETT-WAKE (Eastern Victoria) (12:26): My question is for the Minister for Workplace Safety. Crime statistics show that police have recorded more than 600 assaults at the Malmsbury youth justice facility since 2016. WorkSafe Victoria investigated 91 assaults on staff at the facility over the same period. In fact the department of justice was convicted and fined $100 000 for failing to provide a safe workplace. One youth justice worker reported being assaulted on three separate occasions at the facility, yet in 2022 the government is still failing to provide a safe workplace for youth justice workers. When will these vital and valued staff members be given the support and protection they need?
Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:26): I thank the member for her question. As I indicated in my answer to Ms Crozier’s question earlier in question time today, WorkSafe continues to work very closely with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the CPSU and those corrections facilities to respond to any workplace safety concern that any worker may have in this sector. As I have said a number of times before in the house, WorkSafe is the independent safety regulator. I do not direct their compliance and enforcement activities. Our job in here is to set the occupational health and safety framework through legislation. WorkSafe’s job as the independent safety regulator is to enforce that legislation, and they have been very actively engaged in making sure that issues in our corrections facilities are addressed. They have, from July 2021 to April this year, conducted over 195 inspections in response to safety concerns that have been raised. Can I just reiterate the point that no workplace violence or aggression is acceptable, and that is enshrined in our legislation in our health and safety act. WorkSafe take their responsibilities as the enforcer of that act very seriously, and they are working very closely with the duty holders and with the representatives of those workers to stamp out these concerns.
Ms BURNETT-WAKE (Eastern Victoria) (12:28): Youth justice workers say that their workplace environments are so unsafe they fear someone will be killed. Minister, will it take the death of a worker for you to intervene and fix these dangerously unsafe workplaces?
Ms STITT (Western Metropolitan—Minister for Workplace Safety, Minister for Early Childhood) (12:28): I have to say that that is a pretty disgraceful way in which to frame these really serious issues. I have indicated on more than four occasions in the house today my support for the safety and wellbeing of those workers. To actually come in here and try and sensationalise the very serious and stressful situation that some of those workers have been put under is, quite frankly, disgraceful.