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The tragedy has drawn renewed attention to a system the government says it is reforming after years of criticism over staffing problems and the use of solitary confinement instead of therapeutic and non-punitive methods.
The news comes 24 hours after former premier Colin Barnett said Western Australia's youth detention system was akin to torture and called for Unit 18 to be closed.
On Tuesday, Cook hit back, saying it was the Barnett government that lit the fuse of the powder keg known as Banksia Hill by closing Rangeview Remand Centre.
«[Barnett] “They created this situation,” he said.
“We're making changes to Banksia Hill and it's very different to what it was before.
“At first you had [opposition corrective services spokesperson] Peter Collier came out and said we're putting too many kids in jail, then you should [Opposition Leader] Libby Mettam comes out with a statement that we should put more people behind bars, and now Colin Barnett comes out of his political grave and criticizes the very policies he is responsible for: the Liberals are chaotic, they are ineffective, and you don't really know what they stand for.”
The State Government has confirmed that a business case for a new site to consolidate Banskia Hill has been completed, but no budget has yet been announced.
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