Page 2431 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 August 2017
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Further reports appeared in the Canberra Times about incidents in October and November which led to two staff being stood down. Of course, at this point it could no longer be a case of “this was before my time as minister”. A new and sinister twist in the reporting by the Canberra Times was of Bimberi staff being gagged, of their being uncomfortable talking to senior management and the Community Services Directorate investigating to seek out the whistleblowers who were talking to the media.
We in the opposition asked more questions. Why were not remandees separated from sentenced offenders, as recommended by the Human Rights Commission? Why were Bimberi staff asking for training in the use of force? Was staffing adequate? Again, there were vague assurances from the minister and a reminder that staff should raise their concerns through appropriate channels rather than publicly, rather than to the Canberra community.
The staff were not silent. They spoke of routine strip searches and degrading cough and squat searches. The Canberra Times editorialised that the directorate needed to justify these practices in light of Human Rights Commission recommendations against these very practices. It concluded that a “perception matters of public interest are being covered up could lead to calls for an independent inquiry”.
When the Assembly next sat in May the minister tabled a statement about youth justice. Bimberi had an integrated management system and a training plan, apparently. The Human Rights Commission was looking into all matters that had been raised and a charter of rights was coming. The Canberra Times carried a further report about staff tensions and high absenteeism. Staff saw the government pouring resources into a review without addressing underlying causes of troubles at Bimberi.
We asked the minister more questions about training and the privacy of detainees. The responses showed a minister who was not on top of her portfolio and who simply did not understand the need to take control of a facility that appeared to be in crisis. For example, consider this exchange which happened on 10 May during question time:
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, when exactly did Bimberi management establish the goal of annual refresher training for staff?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question, and I will take it on notice.
MRS KIKKERT: How frequently did Bimberi staff receive responding to critical situations refresher training in the five years before May 2016?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I will take that on notice.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, how will the Assembly know that this annual refresher training goal is being met in the future, and can you tell us when in the past refresher training has been provided to Bimberi staff since the opening of Bimberi?
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