Former inmate hired as Townsville prison guard sparks alarm over vetting process
A former inmate was employed as a prison guard at Townsville Correctional Centre, raising serious questions about vetting processes for Corrective Services staff.
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A former inmate was employed as a prison guard at Townsville Correctional Centre, only to be swiftly suspended after his past recently came to light.
The shocking revelation has triggered a formal investigation by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the department’s vetting procedures.
The man, who previously served time in Townsville Correctional Centre, had been working at the prison this year before his past recently came to light.
A QCS spokesman confirmed the employee has been suspended from duty, and a formal investigation is underway.
This incident has raised concerns surrounding the robustness of background checks for corrective services officers, especially in light of the fact that someone with a criminal history could slip through the cracks and secure a job in a high-security environment.
A spokesman from Corrections Minister Nikki Boyd’s office said she had been advised that processes are being reviewed to identify if there are any “potential gaps” in their processes.
“The Minister is advised criminal history checks involving external and international agencies are conducted as a matter of course when recruiting a corrective services officer,” he said.
Her office also strongly rejected any assertion that the Stuart jail is understaffed.
“There are very few vacancies at Townsville Correctional Centre,” the spokesman said.
“The vast majority of corrective services officers are dedicated, reputable professionals who do a difficult job in difficult circumstances to keep Queenslanders safe.”
However, this explanation has done little to quell the backlash.
Dale Last, LNP’s Shadow Minister for Corrective Services, expressed outrage at the debacle, calling on Minister Boyd to provide a clear explanation on how this happened.
“Just when we thought the chaos and crisis of the Labor government couldn’t get worse, this scandal is a new low,” Mr Last said.
“Is it any wonder that staff at the Townsville Correctional Centre feel abandoned?
“After a decade of the Palaszczuk-Miles Government, there is overcrowding, staffing problems, safety issues and now this epic fail.
“Labor has either given up on the Townsville Correctional Centre, or they simply don’t care.
“The Minister needs to front up and explain how this happened and take steps to ensure that this debacle is a one-off.”
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Originally published as Former inmate hired as Townsville prison guard sparks alarm over vetting process
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