Union calls for immediate inquiry into prison escape

The prison break from the Remand Centre has prompted calls from the union and state opposition for the government to “tear up” its private security contract for the facility.

The state’s top public service union and the state opposition have expressed fury over a prison break from the Adelaide Remand Centre.

On Tuesday morning, Jason Burdon escaped through a louvre window using a rope made out of clothes before casually walking down Philip St between Hindley St and Currie St.

Public Service Association general secretary Nev Kitchin said the union’s prediction that the privatisation would lead to budget and staff cuts within the remand centre had proven correct.

“Privatising prisons always puts community safety at risk, and that’s exactly what’s happened today,” Mr Kitchin said.

Mr Kitchen urged the government to “tear up” its contract with Serco, saying employment at the centre had been halved since it was privatised,

“There hasn’t been an escape from the Remand Centre in two decades of public administration – yet here we are just 12 months into privatisation and we now have an escape from a high security prison,” he said.

Burdon, 33, of Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory, is believed to have stolen a black e-bike, before heading towards Port Road.

The window Burdon escaped from and a picture of the suspect. Picture: Brenton Edwards/SA Police

At around 12.45pm, Burdon reached the West Lakes Aquatic Centre where he was believed to have stolen a car.

He has not yet been located by police.

In March 2019, UK based private firm Serco won a privatisation tender to manage the ARC.

Taking over it’s operation in August the same year, the seven-year term was valued at $115m.

Around that time, then corrections minister Corey Wingard said the privatisation would save the government $8 million per year.

The PSA slammed the announcement at the time, saying budget cuts would lead to safety concerns.

Shadow corrections minister Lee Odenwalder said the security breach was the first escape from the remand centre in the facility’s history.

“We did not see a single escape from the ARC while it was in public hands,” he said.

Public Service Association general secretary Nev Kitchin. Picture: Supplied by PSA.

The PSA told The Advertiser last year that Serco’s operation of the South Queensland Correctional Centre was the subject of scathing criticism from the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.

“In New Zealand Serco lost their contract for the Mount Eden prison and were fined $8m following widespread evidence of understaffing and poor supervision and reports of extreme violence and neglect,” said Mr Kitchin.

“In the UK, Serco has been the subject of criminal and statutory inquiries.”

In July 2015, the NZ Government decided to ‘step-in’ to manage the Mt Eden Prison in Auckland, costing Serco NZ$8m.

The move followed a government investigation which found organised fighting, or fight clubs, inside the facility run by Serco

A Serco spokesperson said an investigation into the escape was ongoing.

Shadow minister for corrections Lee Odenwalder. Picture: Supplied

“We have already commenced a thorough investigation into the incident at the Adelaide Remand Centre,” he said.

“Until this investigation is complete we are unable to comment more broadly.”

“The prison is secure and all other prisoners are accounted for. We are actively supporting SAPOL in the operation to apprehend the escaped detainee”.

Corrections Minister Vincent Tarzia has snapped back at the PSA’s “reckless and inappropriate” comments, labelling them as hypocrisy.

“It beggars belief that the PSA is happy to compromise the safety and security of our hard working men and women across our prisons in an attempt to justify and maximise its union fees,” Mr Tarzia said.

“My number one priority is to see this criminal caught and returned to custody as soon as possible”.

Mr Tarzia said the incident would “certainly be subject to a comprehensive investigation”.

Corrections minister Vincent Tarzia. Picture: Tait Schmaal