Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Union demands reform to Qld prison system
Queensland prison guards are demanding change in the state’s prison system after a guard was brutally bashed in December.
January 10, 2019
Overcrowding and safety in Queensland prisons are among the issues guards are demanding the government take action on following the brutal bashing of a colleague.
More strike action hasn’t been ruled out if the government fails to address the problems, Together Union secretary Alex Scott says.
“Members are having to attend unsafe workplaces because of the level of overcrowding … every centre in Queensland is overcrowded, every centre in Queensland is unsafe for our members,” Mr Scott said.
New prisons to ease overcrowding, along with policy changes to reduce the state’s overall prison population will also be called for.
The government knows the solutions that are needed but Corrective Services doesn’t have the money to pay for them, Mr Scott said.
“Our members are clearly saying a price shouldn’t be put on their safety and there needs to be an appropriate amount of money to run our prisons safely,” he said.
Prison officers at a Woodford Correctional Centre high-security jail walked off the job in late December in response to the serious assault of a 45-year-old guard.
He was repeatedly punched and kicked in the head by an inmate after he told the prisoner he would have to share a cell.