Press Release 26.9.00

FOI Documents available from Pyrton Action Group 92796781

PYRTON CAMPAIGNERS CORRECT FOSS'S LIES!

The Pyrton Action Group and Swan Valley Nyungah Community are incredulous at this week's statement by Justice Minister Peter Foss that the community opposition to the proposed Pyrton Prison has delayed refurbishment of Bandyup.

They are also astounded at the attack on the credibility of Mr Peter Marks - the lawyer who was commissioned to write the Report for Senator Robert Hill.

This Report recommends that Senator Hill makes a Declaration to protect the Registered Sacred Site from desecration under Federal Aboriginal Heritage legislation.

Mr Foss claimed: 'the Report was flawed because it said there were 15 alternative sites' for a Prison.

The fact is that more than 15 alternative sites are identified in the Ministry's own report of July 1999.

The delay on upgrading Bandyup can hardly be blamed on Pyrton when the Government's own reports say an upgrade has been overdue for 14 years and Pyrton as a prison was only suggested 2 years ago.

The only person delaying refurbishment of Bandyup is not Senator Hill or Peter Marks but Mr Foss himself.

RUBBERY FIGURES
Recently released FOI documents from July 1999 reveal that the original refurbishment costs for a Bandyup option were to be $7 million. Even with the GST the increase to a figure of $14 million now quoted by Foss in the West Australian 26.9.00 is extraordinary.

HANDYMAN'S $3 mill BONANZA
Another prison option at Nyandi/Gwynne Lea is variously quoted at $1. to $1.5 million and $2.5 million in documents written 10 days apart, then later at $3 million for the same refurbishments when a handyman with a spanner could in one week remove the security grilles and address the Ministry's concerns about suitability.

DISAPPEARING ACT
After a quick change of plan between February 2nd and Feb 28th 1998 a Saranna option in partnership with Cyrenian House was mysteriously taken off the agenda. Could this be the one Foss was rumoured to have said was 'too good for the women'?

REAL ESTATE and ROOM for EXPANSION
The FOI Documents reveal that the long held suspicions of the community were true. The Government planned to turn Pyrton into a full-scale Women's Prison with Bandyup becoming a male prison, leaving other prime locations such as Longmore and Nyandi to be sold off as real estate. The documents refer to 'significant room for expansion' at Pyrton.

PEOPLE POWER
Pyrton campaigners feel encouraged by the revelations. They say their stand for protection of the land for the community has forced the Government to take up the community's suggestion of making use of present facilities at Longmore and Nyandi.

COURT'S JESTER
Word has also come from reliable sources that the Premier Richard Court wants the Pyrton Prison issue to go away. But Foss wields too much power in Cabinet and is dogmatic on the issue.

The Pyrton Action Group is not resting on its laurels. They are now surveying political parties and candidates in the area on the Pyrton issue. They will be intervening in the Election to let the public know who are the best people for Pyrton through leaflets and at polling stations on Election day and watch out for news of the upcoming Garden Party to promote the community's alternative:

a Culture and Environment Centre in Eden Hill.

NEXT: NEWS

Contacts
Swan Valley Nyungah Community (08) 9377 3550
Pyrton Action Group (08) 9279 6781