Greens spokesperson for Corrective Services Hon Alison Xamon MLC has reiterated her call to the Government to consider releasing low-risk prisoners from WA prisons, in a bid to save lives as the COVID-19 crisis worsens.
Ms Xamon said the Minister was effectively sentencing some prisoners to death by refusing to consider some early releases – infection spread-reduction measures which are already underway in New South Wales.
Greens spokesperson for Health Hon Alison Xamon MLC has echoed calls by the Australian Greens for Australia to immediately follow New Zealand and put in place a full lockdown.
Ms Xamon said that a time limited lockdown in line with New Zealand’s Stage 4 measures, requiring everyone, except those providing essential services, to stay home, and only make physical contact with those they live with, would prevent deaths and reduce the longer term economic impact of the coronavirus.
Greens spokesperson for Training and TAFE Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today called on the Government to move TAFE teaching online, and to start working on how best to transition the practical based teaching and assessments, In order to protect students and staff from COVID-19– and to ensure TAFE students are not disadvantaged as the pandemic crisis continues.
Greens spokesperson for Health and Corrective Services Hon Alison Xamon MLC has urged the Government to ensure measures for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in prisons and detention centres are included in the suite of COVID-19 related legislation to go before Parliament next week.
Hon Xamon said the Government had alerted Parliamentarians to a suite of legal reforms relating to coronavirus which would be introduced next week - but as yet the full detail has not been made available.
Greens spokesperson for Justice Hon Alison Xamon MLC has today called for stricter measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in WA courts, while preserving access to justice for the most disadvantaged Western Australians.
"Many courts in the eastern states have put a halt on personal appearances unless there are exceptional circumstances," said Hon Xamon.
