2023-10-21
Comments attributable to Greens portfolio holder for First Nations, Resources, Trade, Tourism and Sport, and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox:
“I am heartbroken for the family of 16 year old Cleveland Dodd. They are understandably distraught. No family should go through this. Unit 18 must be immediately shut down.
“I say to all Australians, including politicians - if this was your child, how would you feel if they’d been confined to their cell for 20, 22 or more hours a day? How would you feel if they took their own life? It is inhumane that children are subjected to solitary confinement for 20 or more hours a day in a wing of a maximum security prison. These are children.
“This young boy was failed by the system, failed by the inaction of the Justice Department, the Cook Government and the Corrections Minister. Today is a day of reckoning. It is the line in the sand for our people who continue to fight for their voices to be heard.
“It’s time for those in charge at the Justice Department to be held accountable and it’s time for change from the top down. Western Australia is the worst performing state in the nation and I’m sick of the excuses provided by the department and the Cook Government. Premier Cook says he wants to see this place end, why isn’t he using his power to do just that?
“I welcome the Coronial inquest but it needs to happen quickly and I urge the Coroner to take this as an opportunity for real systemic change, to properly analyse the policies and procedures that enable these unacceptable consequences and recommend preventative change. I also welcome an enquiry by the WA Corruption and Crime Commission into potential misconduct.
“I have been in federal parliament for two years, and have been requesting meetings with the WA Government. I finally received a response from Minister Papalia on the morning after Cleveland passed away.
“We cannot continue to have our young people, our children locked down in maximum security prisons across this country. We need to make sure we are providing wrap-around therapeutic services that support, engage and educate children.”