Tuesday, 2 May 2023

Youth justice centres

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:59): (111) I have another question for the Minister for Youth Justice, this time about a government-run facility. The Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre has been in the government’s charge for almost 12 months now without welcoming a single detainee. Why does it remain vacant to this day, and isn’t it true that a lack of staff is a contributing factor?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (13:59): I thank Dr Bach for his interest in the youth justice area. As I have stated in this chamber before, our government has made significant investments in our youth justice system, because our goal is to keep the Victorian community safe but also to give the young people in our custody the best opportunity to turn their lives around. As part of that we have invested in a new state-of-the-art facility, a standalone youth justice facility, which was a recommendation of the Armytage-Ogloff report into our youth justice system. This new facility incorporates a number of features. It has health care, education and a trade school – again, giving young people the best chance to turn their lives around.

In terms of operationalising this facility – as I said in the last sitting week, Dr Bach, if you look at the Hansard – we will be operating this facility this year. That work is underway. It is a large infrastructure project. Again, those opposite may have forgotten how to operationalise large infrastructure projects because they have been out of government for a long time. When I look across the chamber, there are not many people with executive government experience – Mr Davis being the only member of the opposition with executive government experience. That says a lot: Mr Davis being the only member with executive government experience.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Can the house come to order. I remind members that when I get to my feet we go quiet, please.

Enver ERDOGAN: Our facilities will be operational this year. Work in our youth justice system is rewarding work. There is an ongoing recruitment campaign as well, so there are still opportunities for people to work in our new custodial facility – a modern, state-of-the-art facility – and I encourage people to apply.

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:01): As I ask my supplementary I might take up the final point that the minister made regarding ongoing opportunities – and we know there are many, many opportunities – to work in the youth justice system. Are any inducements, Minister, such as sign-on bonuses, being offered to attract potential new recruits?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (14:01): I guess the commissioning of that facility is being done in the usual way, so there is a hiring process. In terms of employment contracts and the specifics of those, the department looks after those at the end of the day. At a ministerial level I will not get involved specifically in every single person’s individual employment contract; that would be inappropriate. I think the department has an advertising process. You can actually go online. You can look at the Careers.Vic website. You can see what employment opportunities there are, the pay grades and what those opportunities provide. It is freely available. The employment conditions are actually on the website. Dr Bach can go onto the website. I understand there are actually advertisements running on seek.com.au as well. That is another opportunity for you to see those conditions in detail.