The WA Budget misses an opportunity to reduce imprisonment rates and to use savings for more prevention, diversion and in-prison programs, Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services Hon Alison Xamon MLC has said today.
Ms Xamon said no funding had been allocated to address the serious issues at Banksia Hill Detention Centre through establishing alternative accommodation for girls and young children, as promised by the Minister last year.
Greens spokesperson for Suicide Prevention Hon Alison Xamon MLC has called on the Government to ensure it pays close attention to the increasing issue of suicide in older Australians, in the development of its next suicide prevention strategy.
Ms Xamon said she had become increasingly concerned about older-adult suicide, which often occurred in situations of loneliness and isolation.
She said anecdotal evidence also suggested older Australians were dying by suicide because felt pressure from their families or were being subjected to abuse and neglect.
Cuts of 41% to mental health prevention services across the forward estimates will lead to increased mental health issues and a bigger cost burden to the state in the long-term, Greens spokesperson for Mental Health Hon Alison Xamon MLC has said today.
Ms Xamon said the WA Budget failed to recognise the importance of prevention, early intervention and community support services in effectively addressing mental health in the community and in saving money in the long term.
Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today called for the implementation of a Custody Notification Service (CNS) for Western Australia, as a first step to reducing Aboriginal deaths in custody in the state.
Ms Xamon urged the Government to prioritise the establishment of a CNS similar to that in place in New South Wales, following the death of a 19-year-old man at Derby’s West Kimberley Regional Prison on 3 May.
She said the service had effectively stopped Aboriginal deaths in custody in NSW since its introduction in 2000.
Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today repeated her call for the Government to prioritise youth justice reform following revelations the Government has yet to identify alternatives to Banksia Hill Detention Centre (Banksia Hill) for girls and young women.
Ms Xamon said the Government’s response to recent questions in Parliament demonstrated an unacceptable failure to prioritise fixing youth justice.
