HEATWAVES PROMPT CONCERN FOR PRISONERS WITHOUT AIR-CON

As Western Australia has faced heatwaves in recent weeks and months, calls have been renewed for air-conditioning to be installed in the state’s prisons.

In 2022, the state government committed $10 million in funding to install air-conditioning in Roebourne Regional Prison, however work is yet to begin.

Meanwhile, the ABC revealed last week the Casuarina Prison, which houses the controversial Unit 18 youth detention facility, is also without air-conditioning.

WA Greens MLC Dr Brad Pettitt said its unacceptable that young people are being detained in extreme heat and often in their cells locked for up to 20 hours a day.

“When we lock people up, its an opportunity to work with them to get their lives back on touch, but sadly we have the approach of not doing much of that, and not even doing the basics, not even providing air-conditioning, whether it be up here in Unit 18 or up in Roebourne where they’ve been promising it for years.”

Listen to Cassie Ariuu interview Dr Brad Pettitt: