Page 3427 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre
Ministerial statement
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Health and Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.42): I rise to provide the Assembly with information about a major incident that occurred at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre on 26 August 2019. This incident has obviously been of some interest to the public, and I am pleased to be able to provide some further information today, in line with my ongoing commitment to a transparent and accountable youth justice system.
In providing this update I am conscious of the fact that ACT Policing and WorkSafe ACT investigations are ongoing and it is important that discussion in this place does not prejudge or prejudice the outcomes of these investigations. As always, I am also mindful of protecting the identity and interests of young people engaged in the youth justice system. I am also mindful that staff are best supported by a thorough review of incidents, thoughtful assessment of findings and timely implementation of recommendations.
Following the incident at Bimberi on 26 August, I announced that there would be an independent review into the circumstances of the incident to be conducted by Mr Peter Muir. Yesterday I received the interim report from Mr Muir. In this interim report, Mr Muir gives a preliminary review and provisional findings but does not provide recommendations. It is envisaged that Mr Muir will provide recommendations as part of his final report, which is due on 1 November 2019.
As Mr Muir puts it in his interim report, the 26 August 2019 incident was “at the more serious end of what you would expect to see in a youth justice centre”. On the evening of 26 August 2019, there were 15 young people in custody at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre. At the time of the incident there were 11 staff at the centre, including the operations manager and the centre director. Young people were going about the evening routine of finishing dinner, doing evening chores and undertaking recreation activities.
At approximately 6.20 pm, five young people from one unit sought to overpower the staff in their unit. This was an unprovoked and violent attack in an apparent attempt by some young people to access keys and escape the centre. As soon as the incident commenced, the control room operator instigated a code and all staff on site responded to gain control of the unit. The young people resisted being secured in their cabins. However, staff managed to secure all but one young person in this unit by approximately 6.30 pm.
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