“The urgent state-wide review prison review just announced by Commissioner Woodham is a band-aid solution designed to kill off bad news headlines for the government during the election campaign,” Mr Shoebridge said.
“Commissioner Ron Woodham has managed to survive a string of scandals but the latest spate of prisoner outbreaks, from both privatised and public gaols, shows he has lost control of the prison system.
“It is clear the NSW prison system is not being properly managed and the public has lost confidence in the ability of Commissioner Woodham to manage it.
“The real solution to the political pain that the government is feeling as a result of prisoner escapes is to get rid of Ron Woodham and install a whole new management structure, overseen by proper independent scrutiny.
“NSW voters deserve open and accountable management of the prison system.
“For decades the NSW prison system has been badly managed, with the door closed to proper scrutiny.
“Privatisation of gaols has already being seen as a clear failure, with the dramatic closure of Parklea prison in January following prisoner outbreaks.
“The Coalition needs to develop a plan that involves overhauling the management of corrective services while resisting its natural
instincts to privatise services and risk the mismanagement we have already seen in NSW gaols.
“A significant part of the problem is that our gaols are bursting with prisoners from years of law and order auctions between Labor and the Coalition. We urgently need to reverse this trend,” Mr Shoebridge said.
Contact: Alison Orme for David Shoebridge 0432 332 10
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This story is good, but it is only a drop in the ocean as to what is really happening in Corrective services. The treatment of staff is atrocious and disgusting. Workers denied the right to be treated fairly and equally as per NSW government policies. The mood within our correctional centres is pathetic and demoralising. Staff at each others throats , staff being made the subject of baseless and malicious rumours.Constant bullying , intimidation and harassment at all levels from the Commissioners officer to the frontline officers. Staff are throwing their hands in the air and just don’t care as management sit on their overpaid butts and do nothing to address the seriouly low morale which in a correctional environment is a dangerous environment. This is the result of a careless and incredibly naive attempt by Woodham to introduce reforms by labelling his own staff and rather than negotiate he and John Roberton chose to ram it down our throats. The end result is a farce that is our prison system.
I went to college in Scarborough Brisbane with David SHOEBRIDGE from Tasmania. His family had a history of Parliamentry service. Your work is very interesting as I have never looked to the Greens. I find some grating in the Senate
Mr Woodham on$412,000.00 P/A with Perks.
Average Prison Officer of $62,000.00 P/A
Senior Assistant Commissioner
And approximately 6 to 8 Assistant Commissioners, all overpaid incompetent mates of Ron.
We the frontline staff know who the real rorters are. Its not your average coalface Officer being spat on, abused, punched, stopping inmates from beating each other up and necking themselves. Its the overpaid has beens that run this circus.