Bunbury Regional Prison
Years of regulatory, court and parliamentary scrutiny over workplace culture, harassment and complaint handling at Western Australia's largest regional prison.
WA in Focus is tracking workplace harassment, complaint handling and safety at Bunbury Regional Prison through the public record. It covers Bronwyn Hendry's Federal Court proceedings, the related WorkSafe prosecution, prison inspection findings and parliamentary scrutiny. This is a summary of public records and not a finding of liability. Research cutoff 5 October 2026. No final civil merits judgment was located in the sources checked. WorkSafe announced discontinuance of its prosecution on 23 September 2025.
- Bronwyn Hendry's Federal Court proceeding, WAD296/2023, has reached closing submissions. Justice Lee's orders of 8 October required Hendry's initial closing submissions by 16 October, the respondents' submissions by 21 October, and Hendry's final submissions, including any reply, by 23 October. The public register records submissions filed by Hendry on 16 October and an outline of submissions and list of authorities filed on 23 October.
- The matter remains open and is listed as "Part Heard" before Justice Lee on 26 October 2026 at 8:45 am Perth time, according to the current daily court list. No final judgment determining the substantive allegations was located in the public records checked. The listing does not indicate that judgment will be delivered that day.
- Separately, the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services published Report 170, its 2026 inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison, on 13 October 2026. This confirms the inspection report previously listed on this page as awaiting confirmation. The inspector identified improvements in workplace culture and psychosocial safety, alongside continuing staffing shortages affecting staff wellbeing and operations, pressures on healthcare, and treatment assessment delays affecting rehabilitation and parole pathways. The inspection findings do not determine the allegations in Hendry's proceedings.
The timeline on this page is our own reconstruction, built entirely from publicly available evidence: court records and listings, regulator statements, inspection and parliamentary reports, and news reporting. Every entry points to a public document, and we add nothing that is not in those documents. Nothing here is legal advice or a finding of fact. Claims before a court remain allegations and are not proven. Where a record was unavailable, incomplete or unclear, we say so, and readers should treat that part as unconfirmed. If we are shown a document that corrects an entry, we will correct it.
- Federal Court case
- WAD296/2023
- WorkSafe potential fine
- Up to $3.5 million
- Staff rating head office support well (2023 survey)
- 8%, down from 19%
- Parliamentary petition signatures
- 148
RESEARCH NOTES
What has been established
- The prison inspector confirms a WorkSafe notice existed. A parliamentary submission reproduces an incomplete excerpt of notice 90022753 describing reports of inappropriate conduct and psychological harm; its full terms and compliance outcome have not been verified.
- A separate sexual harassment matter at the prison ended in a guilty verdict in Bunbury Magistrates Court; two other matters were closed with no further action.
- The 2024 Inspector's report found some staff, particularly women, were distressed by how allegations were handled.
What remains unproven
- The Federal Court has not yet determined whether the substantive harassment and discrimination allegations are true.
- Claims in the parliamentary petition are allegations by petitioners, not findings of Parliament.
- The WorkSafe prosecution never reached a final determination.
TIMELINE
- 2021
Alleged harassment begins
The former prison officer at the centre of the Federal Court case says the alleged harassment began on her first day at the prison.
Source: Federal Court evidence
- 11 October 2022
Government reports zero staff bullying complaints
Answering Legislative Council question 871, the government told Parliament zero staff bullying complaints had been lodged at Bunbury between 1 January and 11 October 2022. Later figures on sexual harassment reports used a different category and cutoff date, so the answers are not directly comparable. The records raise a question about how complaints were defined and recorded; they do not establish a false parliamentary answer.
Source: WA Parliament, Legislative Council question without notice 871, 11 October 2022
- 18 November 2022
WorkSafe investigation confirmed
ABC reported WorkSafe's confirmation that it was investigating inappropriate workplace behaviour at Bunbury, alongside allegations from female officers and their association.
Source: ABC News
- 3 March 2023 (date printed on reproduced page)
WorkSafe notice reproduced in parliamentary submission
A submission to Parliament's Petition 134 reproduces part of WorkSafe improvement notice 90022753, describing reports of inappropriate workplace behaviour and psychological harm. The prison inspector separately confirmed a WorkSafe notice existed. The reproduced page is page 2 of 7, not the complete original notice; its printed date does not establish when the notice was issued or served, and its complete terms remain unverified. The reported conduct is not a court finding.
- 21 November 2023
Federal Court proceeding filed
Hendry v State of Western Australia (WAD296/2023) is commenced against the State and individual respondents.
Source: Federal Court of Australia
- 1 February 2024
Union reports compensation paid or offered
The WA Prison Officers' Union said $770,000 had been paid or offered across eight cases involving current or former Bunbury officers alleging bullying or sexual harassment. The figure is the union's, and it covers amounts paid or offered, not confirmed payments.
Source: WA Prison Officers' Union statement
See: What the financial records show - 31 May 2024
Petition submission provides compensation schedule
Bronwyn Hendry's submission to Petition 134 includes an anonymised schedule of compensation and settlement amounts in eight cases. Its contents are the submitter's account, not parliamentary findings.
Source: WA Parliament, Petition 134 submission
See: What the financial records show - 18 June 2024
Inspector's report raises staff concerns
Report 153 recorded workplace concerns alongside positive staff relationships and operational strengths. The inspector expressly did not adjudicate individual complaint merits or the adequacy of each complaint's handling.
- 19 June 2024
Minister describes concerns as historical
Answering questions in the Legislative Assembly about the inspector's report, Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said the inspector's report was retrospective, that conditions were "not so dire", and that claims about personnel and bullying complaints were "historical" and "not current". That characterisation is the minister's. Later action concerning earlier conduct would not, by itself, disprove his description of conditions at that time.
Source: WA Parliament, Legislative Assembly Hansard, question 435, p3235b, 19 June 2024
- 14 August 2024
Petition 134 finalised
Before finalising the petition, the Environment and Public Affairs Committee received correspondence from the prison inspector and ministers dated 25 June, 12 July and 23 July 2024. According to the committee's Report 67, the industrial relations minister declined to comment during the WorkSafe investigation, and the corrective services minister pointed to existing oversight and reforms. Closing the petition was not a determination that the allegations were false. The underlying letters were not obtained.
- 2 October 2024
WorkSafe prosecutes the Department
WorkSafe alleged the Department of Justice failed to provide a safe workplace, causing serious psychological harm to a female officer, with a potential maximum penalty of $3.5 million.
Source: WorkSafe WA
- 29 April 2025
Parliament publishes Bunbury staffing figures
Figures as at 31 March 2025 showed 232 approved custodial officer and vocational support officer positions against 207 substantive positions, a calculated gap of 25 full time equivalent.
Source: WA Parliament, Legislative Council question 63
See: Staffing figures table - 15 August 2025
Federal Court case stayed
The court ordered an unopposed stay pending WorkSafe case BU5928/2024. [2025] FCA 956 identifies Hendry as the worker and the charge period as 1 April 2022 to 27 March 2023.
Source: Federal Court of Australia
- 23 September 2025
WorkSafe drops the prosecution
WorkSafe discontinues the case citing undisclosed fresh evidence, saying there was no longer a reasonable prospect of proving the charge. This prosecution was distinct from Hendry's civil proceedings and from the separate criminal verdict mentioned in parliamentary answers.
Source: WorkSafe WA
- 16 October 2025
Recusal dismissed, case reallocated
In [2025] FCA 1262, Jackson J dismissed Hendry's recusal application but reallocated the case on his own motion because the way the application had developed raised an apprehended bias concern.
Source: Federal Court of Australia
- 25 November 2025
New inspection announced
The Inspector of Custodial Services announced a Bunbury inspection intended for February 2026. Completion and the report still need confirmation.
Source: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services
- 29 September 2026
Federal Court hearing begins
Hendry, representing herself, began giving evidence, alleging workplace harassment, threats and conduct outside work. The hearing continued into October, listed part heard.
Source: ABC court reporting
- 6 October 2026
Official court list records case as part heard
The Federal Court's Western Australian list dated 6 October 2026, captured on 5 October 2026, recorded WAD296/2023 before Justice Lee at 9.30 am, marked "Part Heard". An earlier list dated 5 October was viewed but no copy was preserved, so that entry is held until a dated record is obtained. A listing is a scheduling record: it does not establish what happened in court, what evidence was accepted, or any merits outcome.
- 13 October 2026
Inspection report tabled in Parliament
Report 170, the 2026 inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison dated August 2026, was tabled in both houses of the WA Parliament on 13 October 2026. In the Legislative Assembly it was tabled as paper 1462, recorded as received by the Speaker on 2 September 2026 and held for 30 days. In the Legislative Council it was tabled as paper 1612. Tabling places the report before Parliament. It does not determine the allegations in Hendry's Federal Court proceedings.
WHAT THE FINANCIAL RECORDS SHOW
Two separate sources describe compensation connected with Bunbury staff complaints. They are attributed separately below because their overlap is unknown, and they must not be added together.
- Union statement, 1 February 2024: the WA Prison Officers' Union said the department had paid or offered $770,000 across eight cases involving current or former Bunbury officers who alleged bullying or sexual harassment. The union said most involved no admission of liability. This is the union's account, not an audited government total, and "paid or offered" does not mean paid.
- Petition submission, 31 May 2024: Bronwyn Hendry's submission to Petition 134 reproduces an anonymised table, labelled as at 20 December 2023, describing eight cases. The table concerns seven prison officers and one administrative worker. Its ICWA/RiskCover heading does not make it an insurer issued report, and its contents are the submitter's account, not parliamentary findings.
Amounts described in the petition submission (anonymised)
| Case | Described lump sum | Described statutory payments | Treatment in our calculation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case 1 | $95,000 | Not specified | Include $95,000 |
| Case 2 | $165,000 | $160,000 paid before lump sum | Include both; further medical and transport costs unquantified |
| Case 3 | $70,000 | Not specified | Include $70,000 |
| Case 4 | $70,000 | Not specified | Include $70,000 |
| Case 5 | $100,000 | Not specified | Include $100,000 |
| Case 6 | $70,000 | Not specified | Include $70,000 |
| Case 7 | None listed | $65,000, ongoing | Include $65,000 as described |
| Case 8 | $70,000 offer declined | $120,000, ongoing | Exclude the declined offer; include $120,000 |
| Totals | $570,000 | $345,000 | $915,000 combined |
Combined described lump sums ($570,000) and statutory payments ($345,000), excluding the declined $70,000 offer
Calculated from amounts described in the petitioner's submission; underlying payments and possible overlap have not been independently verified.
Accepting or settling a compensation claim does not itself establish misconduct by any named person. This figure should not be added to the union's $770,000, and it does not describe eight proven bullying cases.
STAFFING FIGURES
Bunbury staffing as at 31 March 2025, reported to Parliament 29 April 2025
| Staff category | Approved FTE | Substantive FTE | Calculated gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public servants | 68.8 | 61.8 | 7.0 |
| Custodial officers and vocational support officers | 232.0 | 207.0 | 25.0 |
| Nurses and medical practitioners | 12.4 | 9.6 | 2.8 |
| Total | 313.2 | 278.4 | 34.8 |
Gaps calculated by WA in Focus from the published figures.
- These are dated establishment figures. They do not measure staffing on an individual shift, account for every temporary coverage arrangement, or establish the position in October 2026.
- Wider workforce context: on 18 May 2022 the Auditor General's report on staff rostering in Corrective Services identified weaknesses in workforce planning, staffing arrangements and rostering controls, including reliance on overtime. The report examined Corrective Services broadly, not Bunbury alone.
RELATED FINDINGS ON PRISONER SAFETY
These coronial and parliamentary records concern prisoner safety at Bunbury and across the state. They are related operational evidence and do not determine the workplace harassment allegations.
- 20 May 2022
McCracken inquest findings
In findings on Kevin Ernest McCracken's death in July 2020, the coroner identified a failure to call the required Code Red medical emergency, but found the failure did not adversely affect his treatment because officers and a nurse responded promptly. After the inquest, an initial staff notice was found inadequate; a replacement notice dated 19 May 2022 satisfied the coroner's concern.
Source: Coroners Court of WA, McCracken finding [2022] WACorC 25
- 28 April 2026
Devree inquest findings
In findings on Corey Desmond Devree's death at Bunbury in October 2024, the coroner described the delay to his treatment assessment as "reprehensible" and workshop supervision on the day as "demonstrably poor". Overall custodial management was otherwise found adequate, subject to those exceptions. The coroner's four recommendations address treatment assessment backlogs, supervision rules, workshop staffing and safeguards, and defibrillator readiness including spare pads. A suppression order covers other prisoners' names.
- 19 May 2026
Statewide treatment assessment backlog
Statewide figure, not Bunbury specific: at budget estimates, Parliament was told 1,117 prisoners across WA were awaiting treatment assessments, and that individual management plans could now be completed before those assessments. The hearing also identified $4.7 million and 22 FTE for parole in reach and assessment resources statewide; these are not confirmed Bunbury positions. What Bunbury specific evidence shows assessment access has improved since the Devree findings remains unanswered.
Source: Legislative Assembly Estimates Committee B, Department of Justice, 19 May 2026 (about 9.20 pm)
EARLIER OVERSIGHT AND DOCUMENTED REFORMS
These records document both deficiencies and reform responses. Bunbury findings are kept separate from findings about Eastern Goldfields and from department wide measures. Closing a recommendation does not prove later compliance in every case.
- 27 June 2018
CCC report on a 2016 Bunbury incident
The Corruption and Crime Commission identified inaccurate and non independent reporting of a use of force incident at Bunbury on 14 November 2016. It did not form an opinion of serious misconduct. The report also recorded that Superintendent Bishop referred concerns and supporting material for investigation. The same report covers Eastern Goldfields; those findings do not apply to Bunbury.
Source: Corruption and Crime Commission report, 27 June 2018
- 25 June 2020
CCC review records recommendations as closed
A CCC review recorded the relevant recommendations from the combined Bunbury and Eastern Goldfields investigation as closed, with some duplicated recommendations continuing under related review items. "Closed" is a tracking status, not proof that every later complaint was handled properly.
Source: CCC, Review of recommendations made to the Department of Justice arising from six reports, 2020
- 10 May 2022
CCC acknowledges progress on misconduct controls
The CCC acknowledged substantial departmental progress on prison misconduct controls, including incident reporting controls, training, disciplinary processes and integrity committees. This is department wide evidence of reform, not a Bunbury specific assurance about workplace culture.
COURT PROCEEDINGS REGISTER
Every listing recorded on the Commonwealth Courts Portal for Bronwyn Hendry v State of Western Australia, Department of Justice and others, newest first. Times are as shown on the portal. A listing records scheduling only, and orders are procedural unless they say otherwise. Claims before the court remain allegations and are not proven.
- 26 Oct 202611:45
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court Room 22A, Court 2, Level 7
- 08 Oct 202610:15
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Part Heard
- 07 Oct 202610:15
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- 06 Oct 20269:30
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Part Heard
- 05 Oct 202610:15
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- 02 Oct 20269:30
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- 01 Oct 20269:30
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- 30 Sep 202610:15
Part Heard
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Part Heard
- 30 Sep 20269:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 29 Sep 202610:15
Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Part Heard
- 24 Sep 202615:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 24 Sep 202610:00
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.1, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 17 Sep 202610:00
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.1, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 07 Sep 202615:00
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.1, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 04 Sep 202608:00
Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.1, Level 6
- 27 Aug 202611:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court Room 18B
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 25 Aug 202611:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 17 Aug 202612:15
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Registrar's Chambers
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 10 Aug 202614:30
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.2, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 14 Jul 20268:30
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 07 Jul 202610:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 06 Jul 202614:30
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.2, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 29 Jun 202614:30
Case Management Conference
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.2, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 16 Jun 202615:15
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 15 Jun 202614:30
Return of Subpoena
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Court 6.2, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 10 Jun 202615:00
Interlocutory Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court Room 22A, Court 2, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 01 May 202614:00
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court Room 22A, Court 2, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 12 Mar 202610:15
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- NSW: Court Room Not Assigned
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 28 Jan 20269:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Lee
- Location
- Court Room 22A, Court 2, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 24 Nov 202514:15
Mention
- Officer
- Chief Justice Mortimer
- Location
- COURT ONE (Level 8), WA: Remote
- 16 Oct 202514:15
Judgment
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 09 Oct 202510:15
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 09 Oct 202510:45
Interlocutory Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 09 Oct 202510:15
Interlocutory Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- 26 Sep 202510:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Trott
- Outcome
- Adjourned: For Hearing
- 03 Sep 202510:15
Interlocutory Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 4.1, Level 4
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 15 Aug 202516:00
Judgment
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 14 Aug 202516:18
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Part Heard
- 11 Aug 202510:27
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 30 Jul 202510:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 21 Jul 20258:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Registrar Trott
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 18 Jul 202514:26
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 02 Jul 20259:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 23 May 202511:00
Mediation Mention
- Officer
- Registrar Trott
- Location
- By Web Conference
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 09 May 20259:15
Mediation Mention
- Officer
- Registrar Trott
- Location
- By Web Conference
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 30 Apr 20259:30
Mention
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 14 Feb 202516:00
Admin Listing: Chambers/Consent Order
- Officer
- Registrar Ellis
- Location
- Chambers: NOT FOR PUBLICATION: ADMIN LISTINGS
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 11 Feb 202514:15
Conference
- Officer
- Registrar Ellis
- Location
- Court 6.2, Level 6
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 17 Dec 202410:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 20 Nov 20249:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 02 Oct 202410:00
Confidential Conference: Case Management
- Officer
- Registrar Goucke
- Location
- Conference Room 1, Level 6
- 30 Aug 202412:25
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 16 Aug 20249:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 3, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 19 Jun 20249:30
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 4, Level 4
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 22 May 202411:45
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 08 May 202410:15
Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 22 Dec 20239:15
Interlocutory Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 22 Dec 202312:00
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 20 Dec 20239:30
First Case Management Hearing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Location
- Court 1, Level 7
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
- 20 Dec 202313:30
Administrative Listing
- Officer
- Justice Jackson
- Outcome
- Adjourned: Pre Hearing
UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS
These questions remain open in the public record. Listing them does not mean requests have been sent or answers refused.
- What did the complete WorkSafe notice 90022753 require, and what evidence establishes its compliance status?
- What fresh evidence led WorkSafe to discontinue its prosecution?
- How were bullying and sexual harassment complaints classified, counted and resolved?
- Can official payment records reconcile the compensation accounts?
- What are Bunbury's latest establishment and operational staffing figures?
- Which Devree recommendations have been implemented and independently checked?
- What are Bunbury's treatment assessment waiting times and program access figures?
- What undertakings accompanied Petition 134's closure?
- What is the confirmed status of the 2026 inspection and its report?
- What outcome will the Federal Court reach in WAD296/2023?
LINKED STORIES
Stories loading.
Where everything came fromSOURCE INDEX
42 sources
Full source text was not available for every parliamentary item. Indexed extracts and third party judgment reproductions are marked so readers can distinguish the underlying authority from the copy reviewed.
18 November 2022
Full media report reviewed. Separate the staff allegations from the inmate assault also covered in this article.
22 November 2022
Indexed official extract reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. Answer reports two matters, both at Bunbury, still under investigation.
23 February 2023
Indexed official extract reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. Forecast completion dates are not evidence of actual completion.
Submission coded 31 May 2024; reproduced page printed 3 March 2023
Hendry submission to Petition 134, signed 31 May 2024. Notice extract at pages 8 to 9 reproduces page 2 of 7 of notice 90022753; compensation table at pages 11 to 12. Full 21 page PDF supplied by the editor and read on 5 October 2026. Pages 8 to 9 reproduce an extract headed "Improvement notice" (Work Health and Safety Act 2020, section 191), Reference ID 90022753, page 2 of 7, printed 3 March 2023; pages 11 to 12 hold the eight row compensation table (Table 1). A printed date is not proof of issue or service date. These are the submitter's claims; parliamentary hosting does not make them parliamentary or insurer findings. The complete original notice, issue and service dates, requirements and closure record remain unverified. Parliament hosting the submission does not adopt its allegations.
Cover April 2024; released 18 June 2024
Full official PDF text reviewed. Inspection and survey occurred in 2023. Inspector did not determine individual complaint merits or whether every complaint was handled adequately.
31 August 2023
Indexed official extract reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. Does not identify a defendant, offence or complainant.
13 September 2023
Indexed official question and answer extract reviewed. Identifies Bunbury Magistrates Court, not the people or criminal charge.
Document identifier includes 8 December 2023; exact response date unverified
Indexed official extracts reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. A departmental answer reports a guilty verdict; the underlying judgment was not obtained.
22 December 2023
Full reproduced judgment reviewed; court hosted original not retrieved. File WAD296/2023. Procedural rulings, not a determination of the allegations.
29 November 2023
Full media report reviewed. Reporting of pleaded allegations does not establish them as facts.
21 March 2024
Indexed official extract reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. Minister said neither of the two people involved remained employed.
Open 25 March to 22 April 2024
Indexed official petition record reviewed. Bronwyn Hendry was principal petitioner; 148 signatures. Petition assertions are submissions, not findings.
Petition tabled 7 May and finalised 14 August 2024
Indexed official extracts reviewed; full PDF not retrieved. Finalisation of a petition is not a judicial dismissal of the allegations.
18 June 2024
Official publication entry reviewed. Distinguishes release date from the July 2023 inspection and April 2024 report preparation.
18 June 2024
Full media report reviewed. Percentages refer to survey respondents. Article reports six of seven recommendations supported; implementation is a separate question.
18 June 2024; updated 19 June 2024
Full official statement reviewed. Welcomes positive findings and acknowledges staffing, resource and infrastructure pressures; not proof individual complaints were resolved.
21 August 2024
Full media report reviewed. The report date is known; the training date is not fixed here. The trainer's original chatbot exchange was not retained.
2 October 2024
Official index entry reviewed; linked standalone release unavailable. Supports the announcement date.
3 October 2024
Full media report reviewed. Reported $3.5 million was a potential maximum, not an imposed fine.
15 August 2025; hearing 30 July 2025
Full reproduced judgment reviewed; court hosted original not retrieved. Identifies WorkSafe case BU5928/2024 and its connection with Hendry.
23 September 2025
Full official statement reviewed. Records discontinuance, not a trial verdict. The statement does not disclose the fresh evidence.
24 September 2025
Full media report reviewed. WorkSafe told ABC there was no reasonable prospect of proving the charge.
16 October 2025; hearing 9 October 2025
Full reproduced judgment PDF reviewed; court hosted original not retrieved. Recusal application dismissed; proceeding nevertheless reallocated on the judge's own motion.
25 November 2025
Full official announcement reviewed. An announcement does not confirm that an inspection subsequently occurred.
Page last updated 22 September 2026
Live official page reviewed. Page still used future tense and indicated a Q3 2026 report target. It may be stale.
Live archive checked 3 October 2026 AWST
Live official archive reviewed; no historical snapshot obtained. No 2026 completed inspection report was located in the checked archive.
30 September 2026
Full relevant media report reviewed. Reports evidence beginning Tuesday 29 September and continuing hearing. Transcript, exhibits and cross examination record not obtained.
2 October 2026 page heading
Dated third party listing reviewed; page is live and may change. A listing is not proof a hearing occurred or of its content.
List dated 6 October 2026 (saved capture; live page changes daily)
This URL shows whichever list is current. The list dated 6 October 2026 was captured on 5 October 2026 and saved unchanged: WAD296/2023 before Justice Lee at 9.30 am, Part Heard, In Court. A list dated 5 October 2026 was viewed earlier but not preserved; that entry is held pending a dated record. A listing is not proof of what happened in court.
List dated 6 October 2026; saved 5 October 2026
Unchanged PDF capture of the official list. It records WAD296/2023, Bronwyn Hendry v State of Western Australia, Department of Justice and others, before Justice Lee, Court 1, Level 7, at 9.30 am, Part Heard, In Court. A listing is a scheduling record only and does not show what happened in court.
27 June 2018
Official report. Bunbury findings concern a 14 November 2016 incident; Eastern Goldfields findings are separate. No opinion of serious misconduct was formed about Bunbury.
25 June 2020
Official report. Closed is a recommendation tracking status, not proof of later compliance.
10 May 2022
Official media release. Department wide, not Bunbury specific.
18 May 2022
Official report. Examines Corrective Services workforce planning and rostering broadly; not Bunbury specific.
20 May 2022
Official finding. Code Red failure found not to have adversely affected treatment; replacement staff notice accepted.
11 October 2022
Parliamentary question record, fetched in full on 5 October 2026. Table shows Bunbury Regional Prison: 0 staff bullying complaints lodged, 1 January to 11 October 2022. Answer reported zero staff bullying complaints at Bunbury, 1 January to 11 October 2022. Different category and cutoff from later sexual harassment figures.
1 February 2024
Union statement. $770,000 paid or offered across eight cases is the union's account, not an audited figure.
19 June 2024
Official Hansard extract (question 435, p3235b); full PDF supplied by the editor and read on 5 October 2026. Minister's characterisation, not a finding.
29 April 2025 (figures as at 31 March 2025)
Official Hansard; full page supplied by the editor and read on 5 October 2026. Approved and substantive FTE figures match the table. Also records seven staff absent on personal leave as at 29 April 2025, four due to illness. Gaps calculated by WA in Focus from published approved and substantive FTE.
28 April 2026
Official finding with four recommendations. A suppression order covers other prisoners' names; none are reproduced.
19 May 2026
Exchange around 9.20 pm between Andrew Beck and Adam Hort on separating treatment assessments from management plan completion, and the statewide backlog of 1,117. Full transcript supplied by the editor and read on 5 October 2026: Mr Beck gave 1,117 as "the last figure I had", noting it changes daily; the $4.7 million and 22 FTE for parole in reach and treatment assessments appears earlier in the hearing. Automated retrieval had returned an access block (403). Figures are statewide.
Tabled 14 November 2024
Paper 3831, tabled 14 November 2024. Petition closure and ministerial correspondence at paragraphs 2.219 to 2.222 and footnotes. Full report text fetched on 5 October 2026 and paragraphs 2.219 to 2.222 read; footnotes 113 and 115 cite the ministers' letters of 12 July and 23 July 2024. The correspondence summary is the committee's. Records correspondence dated 25 June, 12 July and 23 July 2024; underlying letters not obtained. Finalisation is not a determination that allegations were false.