Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:15): (1183) My question is to the Minister for Corrections. Mr Briggs was placed back into the community on a supervision order only to commit two home invasions, steal a car, kidnap an Uber driver at knifepoint and attack a woman in a park. Why was Mr Briggs placed back into the community?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:15): I thank Mrs McArthur for her question. I think this is an important issue, and again, from the outset, I want to express my deepest sympathy to the victims of those crimes. They are quite violent and horrific and community safety should always be prioritised. That is why we do have the toughest post-sentence scheme in the country. Our laws monitor people post release –

Members interjecting.

Enver ERDOGAN: It is one of the strongest in the nation. As I stated in my answer to the previous question, courts are responsible for determining where offenders should reside. There are a number of options that corrections provide, Corella Place being one, but there are also community options. It is up to the courts to determine what is appropriate in line with the laws of the state. The courts do take a number of factors into place, such as the type of offending and the risks, but these conditions should always be made with community safety as a primary consideration.

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:16): Thank you, Minister. Mr Briggs was placed in a rehabilitation centre where his program included counselling, breathing techniques and yoga. Minister, is this consistent with government policy?

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:16): I thank Mrs McArthur for her supplementary question. Mrs McArthur, you know I will not go into individual cases and individual people’s treatment. In relation to the system we run in our corrections system more broadly, we do run a system that is about a rehabilitative approach, because that keeps the community safer long term, but where people conduct illegal behaviour and they commit offences it is appropriate that they are held to account. In relation to the matters that you are discussing, those matters are for courts to decide about what is appropriate for people in terms of where they should be placed, whether it be in a residential facility – and we have one such as Corella Place for people on post-sentence –

Bev McArthur: On a point of order, President, I asked whether allowing offenders in a rehabilitation centre to receive counselling, breathing techniques and yoga is government policy. Is it government policy? It is not about the courts.

The PRESIDENT: That is not a point of order; that is just asking the same question. The minister was relevant to the answer.

Enver ERDOGAN: In conclusion, as I stated, Mrs McArthur, courts determine the placement decisions for these offenders.