Department of Justice former boss Adam Tomison admit lies were told about Unit 18 youth facility
The former boss of WA's Department of Justice says "a series of grievous lies" led to the creation of the controversial Unit 18 youth detention facility. Adam Tomison admitted information provided to the Minister ahead of its inception was "wrong, misleading [and] deceptive" and could have stopped it from going ahead.
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00:00The department painted a rosy picture of Unit 18 when it first opened.
00:07This is a much better environment for them, it's a much safer environment for them, it's
00:11secure, it enables them to get the care and attention that they need in a much more intensive
00:17manner.
00:18Today the court heard it was in fact a more dangerous environment.
00:23In letters to the young people set to be transferred there, their parents and in media statements,
00:29the department insisted it would have the same level of services that are available
00:33at the Banksy Hill Youth Detention Centre.
00:36Now the man who was then at the helm admitted this was wrong and deceptive.
00:40It's sad that it's got to this point, but the reality is that it's now actually starting
00:45to speak the truth.
00:47Council assisting the coroner Anthony Crocker put to Dr Thomason that it was incomprehensible
00:52that the department would lie to people like that.
00:55Yes, the former Director General replied.
00:57It was also revealed that a briefing note sent to the then Corrective Services Minister
01:02Bill Johnston seeking approval to create Unit 18 included information Dr Thomason conceded
01:09was blatant lies and that the minister would likely not have approved it without further
01:14work.
01:15Dr Thomason said he genuinely believed the material sent off to the minister, the media
01:21and the detainees was accurate, claiming he would have never signed off on it if he thought
01:25it was false.
01:26He told the court that he acted on information provided to him by the then Corrective Services
01:31Commissioner and his deputy, both of whom are set to give evidence next week.