WA's automatic parole reviews could end

Serial killer Catherine Birnie's recent parole rejection has sparked debate about ending automatic reviews of West Australian prisoners who do not even ask to be released.

Birnie, 64, and her late partner David Birnie raped, stabbed, strangled and clubbed to death four women in their Willagee house, in Perth's southern suburbs, in 1986.

They were caught when their fifth intended victim, Kate Moir, escaped after they abducted her at knifepoint.

Under law, Birnie's life sentence is automatically reviewed every three years and she recently had her parole rejected yet again.

Ms Moir has called for a change to the laws so the government can make exceptions to the mandatory parole consideration if the prisoner does not apply for release.

Premier Colin Barnett sympathised with Ms Moir, saying it obviously brought back "dreadful memories", but said the public should feel comfortable about the fact Birnie would not be released from jail.

Attorney-General Michael Mischin has flagged reviewing the parole system - something he has been considering for some time - and Mr Barnett agrees it may be worth examining.

"It does seem a little bit pointless if people automatically come up for parole knowing that they're not going to be released," Mr Barnett said.

"I think the horrendous crimes of the Birnies, the community will never forgive them for that."

David Birnie hanged himself in his protective custody Casuarina Prison cell in 2005.