PM says Banksia Hill death needs ‘proper investigation’ as minister prepares to tour troubled detention centre
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there needs to be a “proper investigation” into the death of a 17-year-old at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, as one of his ministers prepares to tour the troubled juvenile detention facility.
But Mr Albanese continues to rule out a federal intervention into WA’s youth justice system, insisting the State Government is best placed to respond.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy will visit Banksia Hill on Monday, days after a 17-year-old took their own life at the facility.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Albanese said Senator McCarthy had requested a tour of the facility before the teenager’s death.
The teenager was the second child to die of suicide in juvenile detention in WA in 10 months, after Cleveland Dodd, 16, fatally self-harmed at Unit 18 within the maximum-security adult facility Casuarina Prison in October.
Mr Albanese confirmed he had spoken with Premier Roger Cook about the “terrible tragedy”.
“I know that he has also expressed his concern and his condolences to the family of this young man and his friends,” he told ABC Perth.
“There needs to be, of course, a proper investigation.”
The death has prompted calls for the Commonwealth to intervene to fix the State-run youth justice system.
Mr Albanese rejected those calls on Sunday and doubled down on his position on Monday morning.
“The problem with the automatic jumping whenever there’s an issue with any state-controlled areas … is that people in Canberra is a long way from here in WA,” he said.
“There’s a reason we have a federation in this vast country.
“Services historically have been best delivered by State and Territory governments.
“The Commonwealth isn’t about to take over the juvenile justice systems of States and Territories.”
Asked, then, why a federal minister would tour Banksia Hill, Mr Albanese said Senator McCarthy wanted a firsthand look at the centre.
“She wants to see what the facility is like,” he said.
Originally published on The Nightly
