The Cook Government is taking a significant step toward replacing Western Australia's controversial Unit 18 youth detention facility, with tenders opening for construction of a new therapeutic-focused centre at Banksia Hill.
Long-Awaited Replacement Process Begins
The Department of Housing and Works will open tenders on Monday for builders to construct what it describes as a "fit-for-purpose, therapeutic led facility" at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. This development comes almost a year after Premier Roger Cook initially flagged that construction would begin on the project.
The push for a new youth detention facility was first identified in 2022 as a replacement for Unit 18, but only received government funding for detailed planning in November 2023. This funding approval followed the tragic suicide of 16-year-old inmate Cleveland Dodd, with an inquest finding the Department of Justice had failed to provide him with adequate treatment and care.
Timeline Challenges and Cost Estimates
During the lead-up to the State election earlier this year, Premier Cook set what he described as an "ambitious" target for the new facility to be constructed and ready to open in 2026. However, months earlier, his government had received a report from Infrastructure Western Australia that revealed this timeline was unrealistic.
The infrastructure report indicated the prison likely wouldn't be delivered until at least mid-2028, stating there were "approximately four years needed to accommodate the detainees that are not able to be adequately managed at Banksia Hill Detention Centre." The report further noted that "presumably Unit 18 will remain active until the NYDF is opened."
Cost estimates for the new facility begin at approximately $156 million, though the report emphasized that more detailed planning would be necessary to finalise the price tag.
Government Position and Ongoing Concerns
Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia has not explicitly confirmed whether Unit 18 will remain operational until the new prison is completed. In a statement, he noted that "preliminary works have commenced and detailed project planning is underway. We want to see the new youth detention facility completed as soon as possible."
The business case for the new prison has not been made public, raising questions about the specific therapeutic approaches and design features that will distinguish it from the current problematic facilities.
The tender process represents a critical milestone in Western Australia's efforts to reform its youth justice system, though the extended timeline means detainees may remain in Unit 18 for several more years before the replacement facility becomes operational.
