Union furious as G4S wins tender to bolster NT Corrections workforce

G4S has won a tender to deliver extra NT prison staff, increasing the wedge between corrections management and union members warning of a slippery slope to fully privatised prisons.

Multinational private security firm G4S has won a tender to deliver extra Northern Territory prison staff, increasing the wedge between corrections management and union members warning of a slippery slope to fully privatised prisons.

Legislation allowing NT Corrections to hire private staff was passed on urgency less than three weeks ago, and G4S was one of five private firms operating interstate approached with an offer to tender – the price of which remains commercial in confidence.

The number of Territorians behind bars has surged by more than 500 since the CLP gained power in August, sitting at a record high 2733 in corrections custody on Monday.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley. Private security company G4S has won a contract to provide extra prison staff in the Northern Territory. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said G4S signed a six-month contract late on Friday, and a team would arrive in the Territory this week to scope demand and finalise details.

An initial cohort of about 20 officers is expected to be deployed to Darwin in the coming weeks, helping with tasks such as court escorts and prison transfers.

Commissioner Varley confirmed plans to establish a longer term contract and expand private services elsewhere across the NT, alongside continued work to negotiate support from interstate corrections departments.

He said the extra staff would allow internal resources to be refocused where they were needed most.

“Our staff are the backbone of the Department of Corrections, and it is vital that we support their wellbeing by reducing the pressures they face,” he said.

“By integrating external service providers and implementing a surge workforce, we are ensuring that our teams can focus on what matters most – the safety and security of our correctional facilities.”

United Workers Union NT secretary Erina Early. Private security company G4S has won a contract to provide extra prison staff in the Northern Territory. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The United Workers Union has decried the move, saying it was “a sad day for NT Corrections”.

“We have a lot of members who are very worried about their security of employment here with the NT government; ‘surge workforce’ means that privatisation is coming,” UWU secretary Erina Early said.

“We’ve said from day one that if Serco or G4S get any foot into the doors of NT Corrections, they will be controlling NT corrections in the future.

“When you have profit for prisons, it’s not about fixing reoffending, it’s about making money.”

More than 40 Corrections officers and United Workers Union staff marched into the NT Parliament House on Tuesday February 11, 2025, in protest of the privatisation Bill. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Early said the union had concerns about G4S’ track record, which has involved numerous controversies as one of the world’s largest private security companies, with 800,000 staff operating in more than 90 countries.

She said infrastructure, not staffing, was the issue in Darwin, and questioned the qualifications and training of private staff to deal with the Territory’s unique prison settings.

“Just because Commissioner Varley says they’re qualified doesn’t mean my correctional officers are going to believe him, because they don’t trust anything he’s saying.”

The highly unionised corrections workforce recently delivered an almost unanimous no confidence vote in Mr Varley’s leadership, calling for his immediate dismissal.

Corrections Minister Gerard Maley – also in the union’s black books – backed Mr Varley and defended the government’s approach.

“Commissioner Varley has my absolute support,” Mr Maley said.

“We want to make sure that the corrections workforce are safe, we want to make sure that prisoners are safe, we will make sure Territorians are safe. So in a very challenging situation, we are moving forward.

“This is about backing our workforce and ensuring they have the support and resources they need to carry out their critical work safely and effectively.”

G4S has committed to deploying existing, qualified staff who already hold a Certificate III in Correctional Practice or higher, or a qualification determined as equivalent by the Commissioner.

Originally published as Union furious as G4S wins tender to bolster NT Corrections workforce