Tim Marney tells coronial inquest into death of Indigenous teen in detention of 'institutional racism' at Banksia Hill
Unit 18 was created inside the maximum security Casuarina Prison. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)
In short:
A coronial inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager in detention has heard testimony from former WA mental health commissioner Tim Marney, who said he observed institutional racism at the state's main youth detention centre.
Tim Marney said the treatment of Aboriginal staff at the centre was proof of that alleged racism.
But, he said he did not raise this observation with ministers because he was on "thin ice as it was" because he was "pushing the envelope" in his efforts to reform youth justice.
The bureaucrat the WA government employed to reform WA's troubled youth justice system has claimed there was "institutional racism" inside the state's main juvenile detention centre.
WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm and contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died.
Tim Marney has been giving evidence at the coronial inquest into the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd in detention last year.
Mr Marney had been given the task of overhauling the youth justice system in 2023 but his contract was not extended after six months.
In earlier evidence, Mr Marney said there was a "toxicity" of culture in the sector.
But on Thursday, he made the accusation there was "institutional racism" at the Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
"The treatment of Aboriginal staff reflected that institutional racism," he said.
Mr Marney said he saw Indigenous employees treated as subordinate to other staff.
He told the inquest that when accommodation was "tight" at Banksia Hill, Aboriginal staff were sent to work in a sea container, a temporary facility without windows, "in line of sight of senior management".
Coroner Philip Urquhart asked him if the impact of a large riot in May 2023, which then-premier Mark McGowan referred to as a form of terrorism, may have been an explanation for the use of the sea container.
Mr Marney said the move came "some weeks" after the riot.
Tim Marney says he observed "institutional racism" at Banksia Hill Detention Centre. (ABC News: Claire Moodie)
He referred to an "empowered" forum for Aboriginal youth custodial officers at Banksia Hill, which became controlled by senior management.
The officers told him their tasks were often “menial” or “logistical”, and there were occasions where Aboriginal members of staff had been acting in higher positions for extended periods yet were “passed over for promotion”.
However, the State Solicitor's Office chose not to question Mr Marney about his claims of racism, despite being prompted to do so by the coroner.
Claim not raised up the chain
Under questioning from Grant Donaldson, representing Corrective Services deputy commissioner for women Christine Ginbey, Mr Marney accepted the "institutional racism" claim was a serious one.
But he admitted he had not raised his "institutional racism" claims with ministers.
Cleveland Dodd died after self-harming in Unit 18, a youth detention facility located inside and adult prison. (Supplied: Family)
"Raising the issue would put me further behind" in trying to get fundamental issues addressed, he responded.
"They weren't ready to receive that information.
"I was on thin ice as it was, because I was already pushing the envelope.
"Sometimes you've got to put things on hold."
Mr Marney said that at the time, he was focusing on the safety and well-being of young people.
"I focused on where lives were at risk," he told the inquest, and not on where situations "were unacceptable but tolerable".
Mr Donaldson quizzed Mr Marney on his employment, suggesting he was a contractor and his tenure could simply not have continued.
Mr Marney said he was treated "as an employee", not a consultant or contractor.
He told the inquest he had advised then corrective services commissioner Mike Reynolds that his task was "greater" than six months, as it would take years to introduce the new model of care.
While Mr Marney believed it would take "two to four years" to achieve, it would not necessarily be him who would do it, he said.
He told the inquest he had left a job that paid "close to $400,000 a year" to do the six-month contact for about half the money.