‘Prison system that is going to go into crisis’: Guards at NSW Supermax prison walk off the job
Guards at Supermax prison in NSW have walked off the job after an MP warned the prison system would be in “crisis”.
Goulburn Prison guards have gone on strike over the Labor government’s controversial decision to close two wings of the supermax facility, about 200km southwest of Sydney.
It is understood staff will remain on strike until 9am on Friday and the matter will be taken to the Industrial Relations Committee on Thursday afternoon.
Opposition Correctional Service spokesman Anthony Roberts said the strike was “inevitable to happen”.
“I could have told you a month ago that this was going to happen, but now we’re seeing a prison system that’s going to be in crisis,” Mr. Roberts told NewsWire.
“The flow of impacts to the court will be significant.”
He claimed the government treated staff “who do one of the most difficult jobs in the public service” with “contempt and contempt”.
“A lot of corrections officers have settled their families there…their kids go to local schools,” Mr. Roberts said.
“They are bringing huge investment of money into these towns… so the decision to close the wings of Goulburn Prison is squarely directed at them – it is a complete understatement of the importance of prisons in regional NSW.
Mr Roberts also claimed employees had tried to work with the government in good faith, but instead the government made a decision that affected “so many lives”.
“I have received hundreds of letters from prisoners in Goulburn Prison saying they do not want to leave,” he said.
Minister of Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong emphasized that the center was not closed and things remained safe.
“The Minns Labor Government is not closing Goulburn Prison. Goulburn remains a proud prison town and this will not change. No staff will be forced out and there will be no forced relocations or redundancies,” he said.
“The decision to retire Goulburn’s Victorian wings is the right one. These facilities are outdated, unsafe and no longer suitable for a modern sentencing system.
“Keeping those wings open means asking officers to continue working under conditions that independent experts say should be phased out. “This is not in the interests of staff or prisoners.
Mr Chanthivong added that a six-month consultation process would continue.
“We respect staff’s right to raise concerns, the centers remain safe and are operated by fewer staff,” he said.
More to come
