Tuesday, 28 October 2025

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:11): My question is to the Minister for Corrections. The government is struggling to fill corrections roles, hence its well-publicised recruitment drive and $8000 sign-on bonuses. How long will it take for Corrections Victoria to recruit the 114 staff necessary to reopen Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre following this backflip?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:11): I thank Mr Mulholland for that question. I think it is a question probably better addressed to my youth justice portfolio since Malmsbury is a youth justice facility, Mr Mulholland. But obviously it is a question directed to myself, and I am happy to take it.

Harriet Shing interjected.

Enver ERDOGAN: Thank you, Minister Shing. No, I am happy to take this one. But what I will say, Mr Mulholland, is that we have been very successful in our drive to recruit new people to our youth justice system exceptionally well. In fact at both our Cherry Creek and Parkville facilities over 95 per cent of roles have been filled, understanding that people that work in this field are quite passionate about making change. At this Malmsbury facility I am very confident we will find the workforce, in particular because the focus at Malmsbury will be on the lower risk profile – young people that have shown promise in their rehabilitation and reintegration. With the new model at Malmsbury there will be a focus on educational and vocational training with jobs at the end of it. That is the goal. I am very confident those 100-plus roles will be filled in the timeframe.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (12:12): I asked how long, and we are told ‘in a timeframe’. That is not really an answer, but okay. A supplementary question to the Minister for Youth Justice: will the government be re-engaging staff who received redundancy payments following the closure of Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre just to reopen it?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:13): I thank Mr Mulholland for his supplementary question. I do want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that works in the youth justice system, especially the countless staff that did work at Malmsbury – for a number of decades, some of them, I might add. Every staff member at Malmsbury was provided an opportunity to take additional roles not only in youth justice but across the criminal justice system. There were opportunities and a process that we worked through with the staff there. But many chose to take a package, and I can totally understand that. After a number of decades working in a complex environment many of them took that opportunity.

In terms of the Malmsbury facility, everyone is welcome to apply, but of course the cohort that will be placed at Malmsbury will be very different to what was there in the past. There will be a focus on lower risk and a stronger focus on educational and vocational opportunities. I encourage everyone in the broader community to take the opportunity. You can make real change in our youth justice system.