State Government to install air-conditioning to all Roebourne Prison cells

Every single cell at one of Australia’s hottest prisons will soon have air-conditioning after the State Government announced $10 million in funding to complete the project.

WA Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston announced on November 23 about $10m would be spent expanding air-conditioning to the two mainstream accommodation units at Roebourne Regional Prison.

In April 2022, Pilbara News revealed the Department of Justice commissioned a report on the requirements and indicative costs to install air-conditioning across all cells at Roebourne prison.

Six months later, questions in Parliament by Greens MP Brad Pettitt revealed the report’s findings would not be released “at this stage” as it could affect any future tender processes.

At the time, Aboriginal Legal Service of WA director of legal services Peter Collins said the department’s excuse was “pathetic”.

“The real reason for not tabling it is obvious; the cost of installing air-conditioning would be relatively modest and it reflects very poorly on the Government that it won’t commit to it,” he said.

On November 21, Mr Johnston said the prison was “built to code” and there was “no legal obligation to put air-conditioning into any element of Roebourne prison”.

Responding to statements made former Federal Aboriginal affairs minister and deputy Liberal leader Fred Chaney earlier in the month, in which Mr Chaney called the lack of air-conditioning racist, Mr Johnson said many of the newer cells were already air-conditioned.

“It’s not a simple process to provide air-conditioning for the older facilities,” Mr Johnston said.

“There’s a range of heat management practices that are in place to assist the prisoners in the facility and we will continue to work on the challenges to provide a safer environment.”

In announcing the funding, Mr Johnson said the move showed there was “significant investment by the State Government towards prisoner welfare” at the prison.

“In making this decision we have listened and responded to stakeholder and community concerns about the potential effects of the heat on prisoners’ health and safety,” he said.

“This project will factor in the local climatic conditions and challenges posed by installing air-conditioning in a humid tropical environment.”

The prison already has air-conditioning in cells designated for prisoners with medical conditions and transition cells for those who have been doing outdoor work in the community.

The recreation hall, prisoner visits area and female activities area are also air-conditioned.

The $10m expansion of the facility’s air-conditioning systems is scheduled to take place in 2023/24, following a tender process.