PRISONS — COUNSELLING AND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF

538. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services:

I refer to the 2019–20 state budget and to the coroner’s recent identification of a critical shortfall in the number of prison counselling and mental health staff.

(1)  Has any funding been allocated to increase the number of prison counselling and mental health staff within the prison system?

(2)  If yes to (1), how much funding has been allocated?

(3)  How many additional FTEs will be funded?

(4)  If no to (1), why not?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following information has been provided by the Minister for Corrective Services.

(1) No. Funding remains at current levels.

(2)–(3) Not applicable.

(4) Additional funding for additional prison counselling services and mental health and alcohol and other drug staff for the Bunbury Regional Prison expansion has yet to be determined. A business case has been submitted for PCS and MHAOD staff to cover the increase in muster at Casuarina Prison.

 

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