Heinze, Mr R.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General on the topic of harassment by an incarcerated individual.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: On Tuesday 14 November, it was reported in The Advertiser that Roman Heinze, known as the Salt Creek monster, who is currently serving a minimum sentence of 17 years in prison for kidnapping and assaulting two backpackers at Salt Creek in February 2016, has been harassing his daughter, Kendehl, from jail.

It was revealed that this harassment has occurred from hidden mail that was sent to other people, and having them pass on to Kendehl, causing severe emotional abuse to her. This harassment has continued to occur despite Kendehl first highlighting this to the Department for Correctional Services since April 2021. Kendehl has said, and I quote:

They've known about this, I've told them about this, I have emails from them saying I've been removed from his mailing list, and it just hasn't stopped.

I think I deserve an apology, really…it's just not good enough…I want peace without fear.

My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Is the Attorney-General's Department aware of the harassment that Kendehl has received from her father in jail?

2. If so, is the Attorney-General working with the Department for Correctional Services to rectify the situation and issue an apology for their three years of inaction?

3. What measures will the Labor government implement to ensure that individuals who have been incarcerated cannot continue to cause harm by harassing and abusing innocent members of the public?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for her question, and I also saw those very recent media reports in relation to this matter. The issue that is raised has an intersection with a number of different areas, particularly, as the honourable member outlined, the Department for Correctional Services. I am confident that the Department for Correctional Services will be looking at what can be done in relation to this, but I certainly will bring the honourable member's comments in this chamber today to the attention of the head of the Department for Correctional Services, and if there is more that can be done I am happy to suggest that whatever can be done to protect innocent people is done.