Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre
Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:15): (260) My question today is for the Minister for Youth Justice. Minister, on Monday evening, as you know, there was a serious assault of a staff member at the new Cherry Creek facility. You were warned that relocating the highest risk detainees to the new facility was dangerous due to a lack of staff experience at Cherry Creek. Considering that of the first 10 inmates I am advised a significant proportion are on remand for allegedly committing murder and given there has already been a serious assault, can you guarantee the safety of staff who are employed at Cherry Creek?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:15): I thank Dr Bach for his interest in my youth justice portfolio and his question in relation to an important matter regarding our new flagship Cherry Creek facility. Let me say from the outset that the safety of everyone in our youth justice system is paramount, and I reject the premise of his question about the safety and training of the staff. Our new youth justice system approach is about a higher level, actually, of training and preparation. Many of the people that work at Cherry Creek – I have been out to Cherry Creek – actually have a range of experience, not only across our youth justice system but, for many of the experts we have hired, working with young people in different environments, so I reject that premise. I notice that premise was also put to the newspaper by the shadow minister, and I would not take everything that the shadow minister says on face value after his performance this weekend.
Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:16): I do thank the minister. Minister, given the lengthy delay in opening Cherry Creek, isn’t it a fact that the facility simply was not ready for high-risk detainees?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:17): I thank Dr Bach for his supplementary. Again, I reject the premise of that question, so the answer is no. What I have said from the outset is that this is a sensible and managed transition over several months. The staff work proactively to manage different situations, and where there is conduct that is alleged criminal behaviour it is my expectation that it is referred to Victoria Police, as I understand this matter has been.