Page 4734 - Week 11 - Thursday, 20 October 2011
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remains committed and focused on implementing the reforms required in Bimberi. I have had a number of discussions with the minister around how Bimberi is operating at the moment and some of the changes that have already been put in place. The response from that and the information from the directorate are very positive.
In terms of our commitment, we are deeply committed to implementing the agreed recommendations of the Human Rights Commission audit into the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. In relation to the nurse—that is an area where I have direct responsibility—there have been some issues around how a full-time nursing position can operate at Bimberi, but, certainly, from the government’s commitment side, it is to provide all the level of health care resources that are required in order to provide that appropriate support to children and young people.
I do not want people to believe that we are not committed to serious reform in Bimberi—we are. However, there were a number of areas within the report where we may have agreed but not agreed with the exact mechanism or in the detail of the recommendation where we have differed in our views and in our response. But I can tell you that there is deep commitment to implement and continue the improvements at Bimberi.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary.
MS HUNTER: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that many community stakeholders have been very active in trying to be involved in solutions to help these young people, what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that there is a clear means for them to continue to contribute to the reform process?
MS GALLAGHER: I might take the detail of that on notice, Ms Hunter, but what I would say again, in line with the comments I have made to the earlier questions about this being a community responsibility, is that I think that is very relevant here and we do rely on our community partners to assist us with these young people.
From my point of view, there will be continued and extensive involvement with community partners. I am sure the directorate has a mechanism in place to do that. I will come back to you on that, hopefully before the end of question time today.
MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: On what basis does the government dispute the commission’s finding that a Coree holding cell is regularly used to segregate young people who refuse to attend or misbehave in class, and what measures are you taking to ensure that this is not the case?
MS GALLAGHER: I will have to take that question on notice. I am just not aware of the detail of that. I do apologise.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary.
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