Minister’s failure to address prison crisis is putting Officers and the public at risk

The failure of Correction’s Minister Guy Barnett to address the understaffing and overcrowding issues at Risdon prison continues to place the safety of Correctional Officers at risk and is now also putting the wider Tasmanian community at risk.

An incident at the Royal Hobart Hospital on Saturday that resulted in a Correctional Officer and a Doctor being assaulted shows how understaffing at the prison can create risks outside the prison.

“There is a crisis escalating at Risdon prison that is placing our members at unreasonable risk of violence every day yet the Minister’s only response is glib lines about the prison not being Club Med,” said CPSU General Secretary Tom Lynch.

“We are now seeing situations where the Minister’s failure to act to resolve this crisis is putting the general public at risk as well as our members,” said Mr Lynch.

On Saturday (Sept 2nd) the Risdon prison complex operated 10 staff short of its normal staffing of 63. As a result of the understaffing normal operating models were not able to be carried out and so the prison implemented a partial shutdown.

On Sunday (Sept 3rd) the Risdon prison complex operated 11 staff short of its normal staffing of 63. As a result of the understaffing normal operating models were not able to be carried out and so the prison implemented a full lockdown. This meant prisoners were unable to even make calls to their families on Father’s day. On Sunday the Launceston Remand prison was also in lockdown because staff were not available to fill the roster.

“Understaffing coupled with overcrowding has created a pressure cooker environment at Risdon and I am very concerned that unless the Minister takes immediate action an even more serious incident that the riot that occurred last month will happen,” said United Voice Secretary Jannette Armstrong.

“Our members have a right to a safe workplace now so there is no point the Minister talking about future recruit schools and prison redevelopment – he needs to take decisive action today,” said Ms Armstrong.
TOM LYNCH | Secretary Community & Public Sector Union (SPSFT) Inc.