Liberals hold firm on new prison site

ATTORNEY-general Elise Archer has denied calling the people of Westbury “NIMBYs” for opposing the Government's plans for a new prison near the town.

Debate over the issue dominated question time in state parliament yesterday.

Ms Archer accused Labor member Jen Butler of “spreading mistruths and fearmongering” as Premier Will Hodgman held firm on his Government’s plan to build the $270 million prison just outside the town.

Hundreds of people turned out to voice their opposition to the jail at a public meeting at the weekend.

“I and the Government support the decision that has been arrived at through a process that determined a preferred site for the northern prison,” Mr Hodgman said. “It is absolute arrant nonsense for the Leader of Opposition to challenge us on this matter, when it is she who is being silent and it is they who, as is often the case, are trying to walk both sides of the street.”

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said the people of Westbury were being ignored.

“They heard from Government members on Saturday that they were going to be listened to and yet today the Government claim that they are going to proceed and push ahead with the Westbury prison site,” she said, calling on the Government to release the full list of possible prison locations.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the prison should built in Deloraine. “Why aren’t they supporting a more therapeutic approach to the eight to 10 kids a year who are in Ashley, closing down Ashley to children and turning that into the northern prison?”