Page 4209 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2019
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continuing. How many operational lockdowns have occurred at Bimberi over the course of the past eight weeks, and on what date was the most recent one?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question. I can confirm that the use of operational lockdowns has increased over the past eight weeks. Going back to Mr Coe’s question as well in terms of what some of the drivers of these issues are, obviously members are aware that a number of staff members were injured in the major incident on 26 August, unfortunately. Those staff members are obviously receiving all the support that we can offer but that does also affect staffing over that period.
I can confirm that there has been an increase in lockdowns over the period. This follows, of course, a very significant reduction in lockdowns over the past financial year. Bimberi management in the Community Services Directorate are working very hard to get the centre back to a situation where we are not seeing operational lockdowns used to manage the safety and security of staff and young people at the centre.
I will take the detail of the question on notice as to exactly how many lockdowns, their durations and when the most recent lockdown has been from today. Certainly, we do not want to see increased lockdowns at the centre but we do want to ensure that young people and staff are safe and secure at Bimberi but also that young people have access to programs to the greatest extent possible and have access to visits to the greatest extent possible. That is what Bimberi staff and management strive to do every single day working with some of the most complex and difficult young people in our community.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, is it true that over that same eight-week period, detainees have been confined to their rooms for more than 20 hours in a 24-hour period? If so, how many times has this happened, and if not, what is the longest length of time that detainees have been confined to their rooms?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Again, in the debate yesterday—Mrs Kikkert may have missed it because she left during her matter of public importance—I did confirm that in the immediate wake of the incident on 26 August there were quite extensive lockdowns and it is quite likely that there were periods during that initial week after the incident when young people were in their rooms for 20 hours a day. I will need to confirm that; I will come back on notice in relation to that. And I will come back on notice in relation to whether there were any other instances in relation to that matter.
As I say, the management of Bimberi and the senior management of the Community Services Directorate are working very hard to ensure that the centre returns to normal operations over a period of time and that staff are safe and are supported.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, why were there not contingencies in place to avert these extended lockdowns, and what impact do extended lockdowns have on the young people in the centre?
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