Premier welcomes WorkSafe action, says he hasn’t been briefed on psychosocial issue improvement at BRP

Premier Roger Cook confirmed he has no details about what actions the Bunbury Regional Prison will take in the wake of bombshell news the State’s workplace safety watchdog allege inaction over psychosocial hazards. But, while in Bunbury on Friday, he told the Herald he does “know they’re very focused” on the issue as WorkSafe WA prosecute on the matter. Mr Cook couldn’t say whether he thought enough had been done to address bullying and sexual harassment claims, and confirmed he had not yet been briefed on the improvement. “Look I haven’t received a briefing from the Department of Corrective Services in relation to this, but I do know they’re very focused on this particular issue as they are on other Department issues,” he said. The WorkSafe prosecution relates to allegations of sexualised bullying of a female guard and marks the first time the watchdog has prosecuted psychosocial issues under the current legislation. The jail is charged with failing to provide a safe workplace, which resulted in serious harm to an employee with fines of up to $3.5 million possible. The charge centres around alleged incidents which occurred at the prison between April 1, 2022, to March 27 last year according to a WorkSafe letter seen by the Herald. Mr Cook said he was pleased to see Worksafe’s action. “I ‘m very pleased that WorkSafe are able to respond to it,” he said. “This is in fact an important case because it’s the first time that psychosocial issues are part of a WorkSafe order so we’re following it very closely,” he said. “Obviously we don’t want these circumstances to occur but we’re very pleased that WorkSafe have taken such a robust response to it.” Mr Cook was tight lipped on the State’s next moves. “The State will do what it does in these matters, working with the necessary regulatory authorities — one, to ensure that if improvements need to be made they are, but two to ensure that we look after the workers in that workplace,” he said. Upon the news of the prosecution earlier this month, Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia told the Herald he was unable to comment with the matter before the courts. He said the Department of Justice was “committed to co-operating with WorkSafe WA on all matters of workplace health and safety”. “And, it has implemented targeted improvements in processes and training as a result of WorkSafe WA recommendations,” he said. The Department of Justice declined to comment at the time, with the first trial date set for November 7 at the Bunbury Magistrates Court.