Premier Daniel Andrews says his government will follow up on reports a 2019 suggestion to improve security at a youth justice prison which two men escaped on the weekend was not taken up.
Two young men smashed through the plaster ceiling of their cells in the admissions unit and escaped through the roof cavity of the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre north-west of Melbourne on Saturday night.
They were caught by police on Monday.
The Geelong Magistrates' Court has heard the 22-year-old man captured last night by police sustained injuries during his arrest.
His lawyer asked the court that his client be given access to medication for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The 22-year-old was remanded to adult custody and will return to court next month, while the 19-year-old was sent to adult prison and will face court again in September.
Concerns over poor security
The ABC understands concerns were raised in 2019 about poor security of the admissions unit, which is an older building in the precinct.
Internal recommendations were made to upgrade security and infrastructure of the unit, including the ceiling and roof due to risk of escape.
The unit is not surrounded by a secure fence.
The ABC understands the recommendations were ultimately rejected by management.
Premier wants to 'work out' how escape happened
Premier Daniel Andrews said he would "follow up" the ABC's report that youth justice management had rejected recommendations to upgrade the admissions unit at Malmsbury three years ago.
He declined to express confidence in the centre's management, until an investigation into the escape was finished.
"I know there has been substantial, substantial security upgrades there and it's very disappointing and concerning this has happened but let's work out how it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again," the Premier said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Justice and Community Safety said any escape was taken "very seriously" and the safety of the community was of "paramount concern".
A review into how the pair escaped is underway.
Serious assaults in past at Malmsbury
The ABC has reported extensively on serious assaults of staff and young people at Malmsbury.
In the past six weeks, staff have reported being assaulted, threatened, spat on, and having suspected urine thrown at them. One young man threw hot water and honey at another inmate which landed on the side of a staff member's face.
Another staff member witnessed a young person being seriously assaulted by two young men who stomped on him and kicked him in the head while he was on the ground.
Staff have reported concerns about dangerously low staffing levels. Despite supervision ratios mandating one staff member to three young people, the ABC understands staff were left alone in secure units with prisoners out of their cells.
Last month, two young people attempted to escape the Malmsbury precinct while being escorted by staff but were stopped.
The ABC understands general manager Trudy O'Connor resigned four weeks ago.
Windows covered during headcounts
Sources have also told the ABC young people regularly cover their windows during head checks.
They said management allowed this, despite staff warnings about not being able to see young people during head checks.
It is not clear if this contributed to Saturday's escape, but staff have told the ABC that management was reluctant to challenge young people about covering the viewing windows, in a bid to "keep the peace".
The Department of Justice declined to answer the ABC's questions and said it was investigating the circumstances of the escape.
"Any escape is taken very seriously, and the safety of the community is of paramount concern," a spokesperson said.
"The young people [who escaped on the weekend] are not considered dangerous."
The opposition's youth justice spokesman, Matthew Bach, said the ABC's revelations were alarming and if his party won government at this year's election it would upgrade security at the facility.
"Labor is onto their third minister for youth justice in Victoria since the last election," he said.
"After eight years of inaction, excuses, and buck-passing, it is time for Minister Sonya Kilkenny to take action and upgrade the facility," Dr Bach said.
He said more work was needed to examine the "unsafe" conditions for young people and staff.
"I'm afraid by placing these young people into these deeply inadequate facilities all we are doing at the moment is further traumatising them and criminalising them," Dr Bach said.
The ABC has requested an interview with the Youth Justice Minister who declined to comment.
