CAVAN TRAINING CENTRE

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is again to the Premier. Will the Premier advise the house if last night's escape from the Cavan secure youth facility was a result of overcrowding, understaffing and/or the transfer of too many young offenders from Magill in recent months?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:21): If the member had listened to my first answer, she would have had most of the substance of the question that she has just framed. I have just said that the maximum occupancy at Cavan Training Centre is 36 and the occupancy level at Cavan on the day of the incident was 29. There was an appropriate ratio of staff on duty at both the Cavan and Magill facilities last night, so the question of staffing I do not think lies at the heart of this, although that will be a matter for the investigation, and I do not want to pre-empt that.

What we had here is obviously a calculated attempt to prepare for the escape. I do not know whether the particular incident was a calculated distraction but that, no doubt, will emerge from the course of the investigations. All those things we will become aware of. If there are recommendations that flow in terms of staffing or processes, then no doubt we will consider them carefully.

We have been as open as we can as quickly as we can. The information that was provided to the police which permitted them to release names and identify the particular children, which is an exception to the general rule about protecting their identity, was done in the interests of public safety. This was a particular exception to that general principle. I understand that was an important factor in at least two of the escapees being detained. Seven of them are now back in custody and we are still searching for that last one. We will learn whatever the lessons are to be learnt from this escape.