NT Prison Crisis

The Northern Territory Prison Officers Association took out the following full-page advertisement in the Northern Territory News on Saturday September 10.

Northern Territory Prison Officers Association

WHY N.T. PRISON OFFICERS HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND SENIOR CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RECENT VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE BY PRISON OFFICERS IN THEIR MANAGEMENT, AND YOU PROBABLY DON’T CARE. WHY SHOULD YOU? THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOU WILL HOPEFULLY NEVER HAVE TO VISIT THE TWO TERRITORY PRISONS!

THAT IS TRUE, BUT WHAT IS ALSO TRUE IS THAT THE PRISONS KEEP THOSE PEOPLE SENT THERE BY THE COURTS AWAY FROM YOU! THAT IS A PRISON OFFICER’S PRIMARY ROLE, TO PREVENT ESCAPES, AND THEREFORE TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFER SOCIETY.

HISTORY: In 2003, the Territory’s two prisons were in crisis. There was a shortage of staff, overtime was out of control, prisoners were being locked down for 23 hours a day or more, many times a week. There were protests by prisoners, sit-ins by prisoners and staff were exhausted. Conditions in the remand block, which too was overcrowded were deplorable.

The NT Prison Officers persuaded the government to undertake a review into adult custodial services. This review was unfortunately “hijacked” and became a vehicle for misguided prison reform. Prison Officers were not happy that the real issues were not being addressed, ie staffing, staff retention, and prisoner accommodation, however the Department of Justice and the Minister for Correctional Services informed officers that the implementation of the review recommendations would go ahead, with or without their cooperation. Prison Officers reluctantly agreed to this and on condition that they initially received more staff (despite the review stating that no more were needed), and had the right to vote on every review recommendation, the review would at least start.

From the start, recommendations were implemented without officers’ approval. The new Low Security Area (LSA) at Darwin Prison was started without consultation, though officers were assured that extra staff would be made available for when it opened. This has not happened. The trend continued.

Recent attempts by the Department of Justice and senior Corrections management to open the LSA in Darwin and begin a sex offender program in Alice Springs, without adequate staffing for either, despite prolonged negotiations, exemplifies the contempt in which officers are held and have been shown for the last 18 months.

Prison officers no longer have any confidence in those who make uneducated and arbitrary decisions, ignoring the views and expertise of those who work in the prisons.

Prison Officers and the public have been told that the capacity of Darwin Prison will not go above 400, the authorised capacity. Recent history and trends throughout the world suggest this is nonsense. The government has spent 8 million dollars on the new LSA yet hasn’t the funds to resource it.

They must be held accountable!!

SO, WHEN THE PRISON IS AT CAPACITY, PRISONERS ARE CRANKY FROM BEING LOCKED DOWN, OFFICERS ARE TIRED FROM WORKING OVERTIME, AND THE SITUATION ONCE AGAIN REACHES BOILING POINT, ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT THOSE WHO SHOULD BE IN PRISON ARE IN PRISON? WE AREN’T!

Authorised by Peter McConnell
Secretary, Northern Territory Prison Officers’ Association

NT Prison Officers Association Inc
GPO Box 1407
Darwin, NT 0801
Tel 89220111 (w)

~~~End of Advertisement~~~

See the following media release by the Prison Officers Association:

Prison Officers put stop to NT Government plans

05 September 2005

Stop work meetings at Darwin and Alice Springs correctional centres saw prison officers unanimously support a vote of no confidence in Department of Justice Management.

" LHMU members have very serious safety concerns regarding the opening of the new Low Security Area (LSA) in Darwin and the implementation of the sex offender program in Alice Springs.

" These concerns have gone largely ignored by senior management," NT LHMU Branch Secretary Irene Monro said today.

Sex Offender program and new correctional facility in doubt

Negotiations surrounding the implementation of the sex offenders program have now stalled with Prison Officers refusing to implement this government initiative.

" We understand that Government is keen to implement this program due to the high level of sex offenders in the system and the need to rehabilitate, however our members will not support the program unless appropriate mechanisms are in place to ensure their safety"

Plans to reduce overcrowding will fail

Ms Monro said "similarly the plan Government have that this new LSA will reduce overcrowding in the prison system, is doomed to fail if corrections management don't listen to correctional officers concerns."

The LHMU and the NTPOA (Prison Officers Association) call on the Commissioner of Public Employment to intervene in this dispute.

" Department of Justice management have clearly demonstrated a lack of goodwill and inability to negotiate with our members, which has resulted in this resolution and now requires the intervention of the Commission."

Contact Details
Andrew Casey
Ph: +61 2 8204 7206
Fax: +61 2 9281 4480
andrewc@lhmu.org.au

Media release from the LHMU website.

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The Network Against Prohibition has issued a media release calling for the immediate resignation of the Northern Territory Justice Minister Peter Toyne.