Women Offenders Working Group

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Correctional Services, and I refer to his recent answer to a question from the member for Elder on the establishment of the Women Offenders Working Group. Why is it considered appropriate that no-one with lived experience of incarceration be on this advisory panel and will the minister consider such an appointment? With the leave of the house, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Ms BEDFORD: Women with lived experience of custody are, dare I say it, experts in the area and they have access to networks that this advisory group couldn't have and don't have. It has been put to me by a constituent and a key stakeholder group that it could be considered counterproductive to convene a panel of so-called experts and not include the voices of women with lived experience.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:43): I thank the member for the question and do refer to my answer I gave the other day. It is an outstanding working group. The people we have on it have a wealth of experience. You are right: lived experience does count as well, but so does experience in other fields and other factors. We have people who have worked within this industry, people who have had plenty of time associating with people in this industry and people who have worked to actually help people when they have transitioned out of incarceration and into the workforce. I am very happy and very confident with the people we have on the group. I am happy to take the member's point on board, but the people we have on the group are outstanding.