Inquest told of ‘dysfunctional toxic’ culture at detention centre

The inquest into the death of teenager Cleveland Dodd in Perth opened again this week with the State’s former under treasurer and mental health commissioner telling Coroner Philip Urquhart the WA Govt had been fed ‘bullshit’ and that the culture at Banksia Detention centre was ‘toxic’.

Tim Marney described to the court “the extent of the dysfunction and the toxicity” became clearer the closer he got to staff on the ground as he tried to implement new plans at the centre.

Coroner Philip Urquhart rejected a bid from government lawyers to reject evidence.

Cleveland, 16, died in October last year after self-harming inside his cell in Unit 18, a youth detention facility set up inside the adult, maximum security Casuarina Prison.

“By six weeks in it was very clear that that was the root cause of all issues … [including] behaviour among youth detainees,” Mr Marney said.

He told the inquest he believed politicians in government, who were committed to improving youth detention, were being fed “bullshit” and what the department had told them was not the same experience on the ground.

Mr Marney’s attempts to improve the centre ended when his contract was not extended after just six months,

In another move to thwart proceedings, the Department of Justice failed in a bid to restrict the evidence heard by the inquest.

Lawyers for department filed submissions arguing certain documents and evidence from four witnesses, including Mr Marney, were not relevant.

Their argument was rejected by the Coroner.

The inquest continues.