Western Australia's notorious Banksia Hill detention centre was the scene of another serious disturbance overnight, sparking condemnation from the union that represents personnel in the centre.
The Department of Justice confirmed on Tuesday that seven detainees at the youth prison climbed fences and rooftops, damaged infrastructure and threw debris at staff.
Special Operations Group officers were deployed to "safely conclude the incident" and the Department said the detainees each descended voluntarily and were secured in their cells, and no detainees were injured.
Four officers suffered injuries from rocks and other debris thrown during the incident, including one officer who underwent emergency hospital treatment overnight, the Department said. WA Police and WorkSafe have been informed of the incident.
The state government's management of the youth prison has been subject to stinging criticism from the current Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan, former Inspector Neil Morgan, current President of the Children's Court Hylton Quail as well as his predecessor Denis Reynolds, and many other human rights experts.
Earlier this month the Aboriginal Legal Services WA condemned the ongoing use of lockdowns at Banksia Hill, despite Supreme Court of WA Justice Paul Tottle ruling in August that the tactic was in breach of the Young Offenders Act.
That judgement came in a case involving a 14 year-old Indigenous boy being confined to his cell for at least 20 hours per day on 26 days across four months.
On Tuesday afternoon the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association said the officer was "horrifically injured" and remains in hospital for emergency treatment.
CPSU/CSA branch secretary, Rikki Hendon said the union wishes a quick recovery to the injured worker.
"This was unnecessary and avoidable. No one should have to fear for their health and safety when they're at work. Everyone should go to work and return home safe to their families," she said.
"Ensuring the health and safety of our members at Banksia Hill is our priority. Enquiries and discussions continue with parties at Banksia Hill to establish the details of last night's incident.
"The Government and Department have clearly and absolutely failed to ensure the safety of staff at Banksia Hill yet again. We have engaged with successive Governments and the Department for over a decade now on issues of safety for staff and young people. We are frustrated that we continue to have a failure to commit to safety, even despite the alarmingly high rates of assault at Banksia Hill, what will it take to commit to safety?"
Ms Hendon said the union will continue engaging in dialogue with the WA government, but "this failure, after a decade of failures, should now be the final straw".
"The government must urgently and decisively act to ensure a youth justice system in Western Australia that embeds the safety of staff and young people into its culture," she said.
Banksia Hill has been the scene of multiple disturbances, including riots, over the past decade. Indigenous youth are radically over-represented amongst detainees.
