We made calls to a media advisor, but had no luck. Given it was getting late into the evening, we made plans to discover the facts on Thursday morning.

Again, we called and emailed the media advisor for the Justice Department.  And then another advisor due to the usual person on leave. 

Come midday we had no answers. So we went doorknocking. We found the prisoner and had a great chat to him about his situation. He is in limbo. He doesn’t want to go back to jail, but he also fears being arrested over this error by the Justice Department.

The department continued to deny anything was wrong. That’s when we told them we had sat down opposite the man in question. Then the tune started to change. We were told the department and minister were aware of the error on November 10. He was released November 5. He didn’t realise it was an error until he appeared for a probation appointment on November 15. So what’s happened?

As we reported, this isn’t the first time this has happened. A report was commissioned in 2016 due to release errors and recommendations put forward. 

Again, we were stonewalled when asking the Minister what recommendations had been actioned. The comments we received were from spokespeople, not Corrections Minister Elise Archer.

That was until yesterday afternoon when we finally received comments. The responses haven’t answered all our questions, but it has started to clear up some questions we have been asking since Thursday morning.

It’s important to note that we are not being combative or attacking the state government or Ms Archer. It’s our job to ensure accountablility and question process. We did so respectfully, but also persistently.

We are here to ask the questions and to keep asking until they are answered. If there is something you think we should be asking – regardless of topic – please get in touch by replying to this email or connecting with us via this Facebook group.