Premier’s Delusion Puts Community Safety At Risk

Media Release | 20 November 2025
‍

Adam Hort MLA
Shadow Minister for Police; Corrective Services; Youth
‍

The Government’s failure to run a safe, functioning prison system is now directly impacting
community safety, following reports that judges are reducing offenders sentences due to sub
standard conditions in WA prisons.

Shadow Corrective Services Minister Adam Hort said the situation showed a prison system in
disarray under the Cook Labor Government.

“We know that a drug trafficker and violent carjacker both received reduced sentences by
judges because the offenders had been subjected to inhumane and degraded conditions at
Hakea Prison,” he said.

“We also know of a paedophile who was not jailed and instead was released into the
community under supervision because there were no options for prison rehabilitation.

“It is sickening to see these violent and harmful criminals are being released early, or not
imprisoned at all, because the Cook Labor Government is failing to effectively manage our
prisons.”

The Premier said this week he “does not accept” the descriptions of conditions at prisons,
dismissing concerns raised by the Courts.

His comments also came despite repeated warnings from the independent Inspector of
Custodial Services about the severe and dangerous state of the Hakea Prison.

“The Premier isn’t just ignoring the evidence, his refusal to accept the basic facts laid out by
the Inspector of Custodial Services is utterly reckless,” Mr Hort said.

“He is ignoring the independent watchdog, ignoring the courts and ignoring the facts written in
black and white. It is a blatant refusal to confront reality.”

In a report released earlier this year, the Inspector warned Hakea was holding inmates in
conditions that were cruel, inhuman and degrading, issuing a formal Show Cause Notice after
finding prisoners were being routinely denied basic rights.

In his follow-up report released in June, he again found conditions “entirely unacceptable”,
with chronic overcrowding, constant lockdowns and men still sleeping on mattresses on the
floor next to cell toilets.

The Inspector of Custodial Services described Hakea Prison as “symptomatic of a system in
crisis” and recommended a formal inquiry.

“There have been warnings, reports and crisis findings for years. The Government ignored
them, and now Western Australians are paying the price with dangerous criminals back on the
streets early,” Mr Hort said.
‍

Media Contact: Hayden Tognela – 0467 044 028

‍