Wyndham Regional Prison to be closed

31/8/93

Attorney General Cheryl Edwardes today announced that the State Government would close Wyndham Regional Prison. 

It was intended that the facility be closed by September 30 this year. 

Mrs Edwardes said the decision had been influenced by the reduction of prison numbers in the region and the continued development of initiatives aimed at diverting minor offenders from imprisonment. 

"Put simply, we could not justify its continued existence," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Although the prison will close, the Government is determined that Wyndham - far from being disadvantaged - will benefit from the development and implementation of offender programs which are regionally and culturally specific. 

"However, any new programs will only be put in place following consultation and with community agreement.  For this reason, a project co-ordinator has been appointed to work with the people of Wyndham and facilitate the establishment of these alternatives." 

Mrs Edwardes said the proposals being put forward by the State Government as replacements for the prison were for a community outreach centre, which could be used as a sobering-up shelter when required, and the establishment of a 'safe house' for women. 

"The Government, although waiting for community agreement on these proposals, has already earmarked funding and resources for these initiatives," the Minister said. 

"In addition, consideration is being given to the establishment of a small residential camp for the treatment of alcoholics and the perpetrators of violence." 

Mrs Edwardes said there were presently 15 prisoners at Wyndham Prison and the average muster for this year stood at 25 compared with 38 for the previous year. 

"Of these inmates, only two or three on any given day are likely to have been from the Wyndham area," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The vast majority of prisoners at Wyndham Prison serve very short sentences and the Government's commitment to divert these type of offenders from imprisonment would have led to an even greater reduction in the prison muster." 

Mrs Edwardes said inroads were already being made into the prison population in the North of the State through the recently implemented Community Detention Scheme, which sees Aboriginal offenders serving minor sentences in their own communities. 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Commerce and Trade Hendy Cowan said State Government support for the Wyndham region would not be restricted to the justice area, with initiatives to be undertaken to boost the local economy.

Mr Cowan said that $60,000 would be provided to establish a business enterprise centre in Wyndham. 

"The Department of Commerce and Trade is confident that such an enterprise centre, working closely with the Kimberley Development Commission, would be effective in stimulating economic development in the area," Mr Cowan said. 

"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission is also considering a funding package to extend the business funding scheme to the area.

"The scheme would provide for a field officer to assist Aboriginal communities with the development of businesses and provide ongoing support.

"There is little doubt that Wyndham has the capacity to become a major distribution centre for the supply of food, equipment and material to East Kimberley Aboriginal communities." 

Mr Cowan said Wyndham was also ideally placed to take advantage of the rapid growth in the Kimberley tourism trade and increased commercial activity in the region could lead to expansion of the Wyndham Port. 

"With some help from the Government, plus a little imagination and hard work by the local community, Wyndham has the potential to be developed into a thriving economic centre," he said.

Media contact: Casey Cahill 421 7777

Peter Jackson 222 9595