On-country juvenile rehabilitation centre plan for the Goldfields included in WA Liberals’ youth crime plan

An on-country juvenile rehabilitation centre will be considered for the Goldfields as part of the WA Liberals’ plan to crack down on youth crime if elected to government at next month’s State election. The plan, which will be announced in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Tuesday by leader Libby Mettam, shadow minister for police Peter Collier, and candidate for Kalgoorlie Rowena Olsen, includes $2 million to plan on-country centres for regional WA, “preferably in the Goldfields and Kimberley regions”. Ms Olsen welcomed the announcement, stating youth crime was “out of control” in the Goldfields and regional WA. “If we can break the cycle before kids turn into serious, repeat offenders, it will make all our communities a much safer place,” she said. “Having an on-country facility right here in the Goldfields recognises how bad things have become locally, and will immediately help make the most difference to local kids.” Mr Collier said data showed a “significant number” of regional juveniles in the justice system were Aboriginal. “Putting facilities on-country will help shift the approach towards a rehabilitative focus and will increase the overall effectiveness of our youth justice facilities,” he said. Ms Mettam said only the WA Liberals had a comprehensive plan to prevent crime throughout the “entire offending journey”, from early intervention with children to more police on the beat and tougher sentencing and parole conditions. “The WA Liberals are committed to cracking down on crime and making our communities safer, starting with 300 additional police on the beat through overtime, from day one, with 500 additional officers over five years,” she said. “But we also need to act before young people are known to WA Police to ensure they aren’t caught up in the criminal justice system and are diverted before they start offending. “That’s why we’ve already committed to two behaviour centres, our school policing program, and are today committing to planning two regional juvenile rehabilitation centres.” Mr Collier said intervention for disengaged youth before they entered the youth justice system was a focus for the party. “There are an increasing number of disengaged students in our schools, many of whom will transition into the juvenile justice system and ultimately a life of crime,” he said. “The WA Liberals will engage 20 retiring police officers to work three days a week directly with these students throughout Western Australia. “The school engagement officer program will be developed by the Department of Education and WA Police and will involve pastoral care, respectful relationships and mentoring for this challenging cohort of students. “The WA Liberals will also invest $500,000 for a business case to establish an additional two behaviour centres for public school students.” The two centres would supplement the existing centre established by the Barnett Government in Midland. “We anticipate one would be located north of the river, and one south,” Mr Collier said. “The centre in Midland has been incredibly effective in providing curriculum and support services tailored to the challenging needs of these students.”