Dale Last slams State Govt’s $3.5M anti-climb mesh at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre

A vocal North Queensland MP has called out the State Government for “wasting” millions of dollars on upgrades to a Townsville detention centre meant to stop inmates climbing on the roof.

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A VOCAL North Queensland MP has called out the State Government for “wasting” $3.5 million on “anti-climb mesh” at a Townsville detention centre.

Opposition spokesman for Police Dale Last came out firing after a group of Cleveland Youth Detention Centre (CYDC) inmates climbed on the roof of the centre last week, and stayed there for three hours.

“The recent events at CYDC proves that the Queensland taxpayer has been ripped off,” Mr Last said.

“This work is a dismal failure and it’s done nothing for the community or for the staff of CYDC.”

In 2015, the centre was pipped for a multi million-dollar renovation to prevent inmates from climbing onto the roofs.

Dale Last, Burdekin MP.

A year later, the centre’s biggest and most destructive riot broke out after inmates still managed to still climb onto the roof and protest for 12 hours, causing $145,000 damage.

Mr Last said a stack of similar incidents that followed the riot showed the works were ineffective.

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“How can anyone have confidence that these detainees are actually being detained when, despite all that money being spent, they can still make their way onto the roof,” he said.

The Townsville Bulletin recently reported on a spate of assaults and injuries at the centre, with staff revealing they were too scared to go back to work, and how they feared a female guard might be taken hostage.

Police responded to an incident at the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre on Wednesday night, with reports of multiple teenage criminals on the roof. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Mr Last said the ongoing incidents were just one reason why some residents refer to CYDC as a “holiday camp” and that he could understand that community’s frustration.

“Taxpayers are watching staff getting assaulted and, to add even more insult to injury, their money is being wasted on anti-climb mesh that is an obvious failure.”

“When these types of things happen at a prison, action is rapidly taken but, at CYDC, it appears the government is more concerned about creating a nice environment than making the place safe for the staff and ensuring the safety of the community.”

Mr Last said he supported rehabilitation, but there needed to be a balance.

“There must be deterrence and, right now, it’s clear there definitely isn’t much deterring these young people from reoffending when released.”

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said her government had invested more than $177 million in upgrades at the facility, unlike the LNP, but did not directly address whether the anti-climb mesh was a waste of money.

“CYDC opened 20 years ago and we have consistently invested in infrastructure and security upgrades. The latest incident was resolved safely and with minimal damage,” Ms Linard said.

“Youth detention centres are challenging and unpredictable environments, but if young people do the wrong thing while in detention they will be held accountable and police will investigate any damage or alleged assaults.

“There are no silver bullets, no quick fixes.

“But our young people in detention are, in the main, a tough cohort with complex backgrounds and we don’t back away from that.”

Ms Linard said the department is providing extra training for staff and a “working group” was in place to review current practices.

Originally published as Dale Last slams State Govt’s $3.5M anti-climb mesh at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre