There have been 500 new prisoners since the NT Government took office last August. Photo: stock
Another 96 beds are about to open at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre as the Northern Territory accelerates the implementation of prisons master plan.
Corrections Minister Gerard Maley says “an unprecedented rise in prisoner numbers means we have seen unprecedented pressures and workforce challenges across our corrections system”.
“Since the August election, there has been a surge of more than 500 additional prisoners. Our master plan is providing expanded capacity to manage the increase in prisoner numbers,” he says.
A new 96-bed modular section at the Alice Springs centre adds to greater capacity at Berrimah Correctional Centre, which now has 164 beds and is on track to reach 200 by the end of March.
“We are acting swiftly to increase capacity while ensuring our corrections workforce is supported to manage these pressures,” Maley says.
He says government will introduce new laws to allow the Corrections Commissioner to use “external workforces” including experienced corrections personnel from interstate.
MASTER PLAN
Maley says the government is accelerating key projects of the master plan.
“Our government is fast-tracking projects to expand capacity …” he says.
“One of the most pressing challenges we face is the significant gap between the rising prisoner population and our ability to recruit and train corrections staff at the pace required to meet this demand.”
The government is bolstering the workforce with one of its largest corrections recruits squad due to graduate in April followed by more recruits starting training as well.
WISHLIST
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro recently met with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in Alice Springs to discuss crime in the Territory.
She also recently wrote to the Federal Government and Dutton to ask Canberra to consider a seven-item wish-list she believes will improve community safety. Those requests are:
- Centrelink payments to fall on takeaway alcohol-free days.
- Reintroduce compulsory work or training programs with fortnightly reporting for Centrelink recipients.
- Performance audit federally funded programs.
- Ensure royalty distributions occur in communities, not in Alice Springs.
- Extend Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) exemptions to Alice Springs Police drone pilots.
- Extra income management for parents of youth offenders on Centrelink.
- Accept NT referral of neglectful parents to federal government for “additional income management”.
