BULLSBROOK — The Cook Government is seriously considering converting Western Australia’s long-idle $400 million COVID-19 quarantine facility at Bullsbrook into a 500-bed low-security prison and rehabilitation centre to help ease the state’s growing prison overcrowding crisis.
Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia confirmed the proposal on Tuesday, describing the site — located on Commonwealth land about 40 minutes north of Perth — as a potential solution to mounting pressure on WA’s prison system.
The 500-bed facility was completed in September 2022 but has sat largely vacant since borders reopened, becoming known as a multimillion-dollar “white elephant.” It was briefly used for emergency accommodation during the 2023 northern suburbs bushfires but has otherwise remained empty.
WA’s prison population has surged in recent years, with reports of triple-bunking, inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and significant growth in remand prisoners, particularly those facing family and domestic violence charges.
Mr Papalia said the isolated location, which made the site unsuitable for long-term housing according to Shelter WA, could be advantageous for a correctional facility focused on lower-risk offenders and rehabilitation programs.
Discussions are continuing with the federal Department of Finance, which still owns the site.The plan has drawn mixed reactions. The Western Australian Prison Officers’ Union labelled the idea a “bad idea,” warning that the facility was not designed for secure long-term detention and would require substantial upgrades to internal walls and security infrastructure.
Union representative Andy Smith acknowledged the urgent state of the prison system but questioned whether there were enough low-security prisoners to justify the conversion.
Opposition politicians criticised the government for previously ruling out the site for housing while now considering it for prisoners, accusing Labor of inconsistent priorities and failing to build dedicated new prison infrastructure.No final decision has been made, and any transfer would require federal approval.
A timeline for the proposal has not been released.
The development comes as the state grapples with record prison numbers, with experts warning that overcrowding is creating unsafe conditions for both inmates and staff.
Locals in the Bullsbrook area have previously expressed concerns about large-scale developments in the semi-rural community, citing limited infrastructure and services.The government is expected to provide further updates in coming weeks as negotiations with the Commonwealth progress.
This story is developing.
