Roebourne gaol still a sweatbox

by Samantha Robin

May 8, 2008

ROEBOURNE Prison facilities may be improving, but they still have a long way to go, says WA’s Office of Custodial Services.

In 2006, an inspection revealed the prison was at imminent risk of breakdown due to stress factors such as overcrowding, oppressive climate and staff shortages.

Despite efforts to improve conditions, a follow-up inspection in January 2008, results of which were released on May 6, revealed the prison’s temperature was 53 degrees Celsius in the day and up to 40 degrees at night.

In an emailed statement made to eMU News, prisons minister Margaret Quirk said significant work had been done to improve the prison’s conditions.

“All cells and dayrooms have ceiling fans,” she said. “Retrofitting air conditioning in all cells would be prohibitively expensive and is an option not supported by all prisoners.”

A fly-in, fly-out staffing model has been used by the Department of Corrective Services recently to address staff shortages, but this only just helps the prison to meet its staffing requirements, the report said.

Ms Quirk said that while the situation at the prison wasn’t ideal, the department was doing the best it could to make the most of the existing situation.

The inspector suggested the prison be relocated from its present location to somewhere cooler in the Pilbara. Ms Quirk said this was not feasible right now.

“I cannot move the prison from its present location and despite the inspector’s recommendation the facility be replaced by 2015, he has acknowledged in his report that there are more urgent priorities that need to be addressed,” she said.