Leaked texts show Department of Corrections attempting to fill dozens of roles in a single day
Leaked texts have laid bare just how short-staffed Territory prisons are – as the department’s ‘emergency actions’ continue despite threats of a walk off from corrections officers.
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Leaked texts have exposed the roles the Department of Corrections is trying to fill at one prison daily – offering more overtime for officers to fill dozens of roles as a new “three-step plan” is released to provide “immediate relief”.
Tensions are still high between the department and the United Workers Union (UWU), with negotiations still underway in a bid to stop corrections officers walking off the job.
It comes after Corrections Commissioner chief executive Matthew Varley initiated a series of “emergency actions” for the prisons on Friday.
The “emergency actions” saw a raft of prisoner reshuffles take place.
This included flights chartered from Darwin to Alice Springs and back to move 20 male inmates and 38 female inmates, which drew the ire of the union and some corrections staff.
They said the prisons were already at capacity, and ill-equipped to deal with the movements.
On Monday, this masthead obtained a text message sent to Darwin Correctional Centre (DCC) staff, which said multiple “call back” (overtime) shifts were available to staff – excluding night shift.
The positions needed to be filled included: senior corrections officers for sector seven; internal and external escorts; reception staff; medical and sports and recreation officers; cleaning; and more.
An Alice Springs corrections officer – who did not want to be named – said the facility was “27 officers short” on Monday, while this masthead understands Darwin was down 24 officers.
In a statement Monday afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley unveiled a “comprehensive three-step plan that provides immediate relief to overcrowded prisons, long-term infrastructure solutions – and focuses on rehabilitation”.
Starting in November, the plan will see a new youth justice centre open at Holtze – “which will become the principal youth detention facility for the Northern Territory,” the statement said.
An “immediate conversion” is also set to take place at Berrimah jail – scheduled to close in 2026 – for “temporary use” by “up to 50 low-security male prisoners”, the statement said.
Part of the “emergency actions” will see inmates rehoused from police watch houses in Alice Springs, Palmerston, and Katherine.
Currently, there are 115 corrections prisoners being houses across the three watch houses, however, on Monday morning NT Police Assistant Commissioner Janelle Tonkin said there was no date on when the prisoners would be rehoused.
“I don’t have that information on hand, it’s an ongoing operation,” she said.
One source told this masthead the prisoners from the watch houses won’t be rehoused for another “six to eight weeks” – or when Berrimah is available for use again.
“Problem is, by that time we will need another 150 beds,” they said.
This masthead has previously reported how there are 25 prisoners at Palmerston watch house who have been housed at the facility for more than 10 days, where the lights are never dimmed.
Negotiations on a potential walk off for corrections staff are continuing, with Mr Varley talking with Darwin and Alice Springs staff Monday afternoon via videolink.
UWU NT secretary Erina Early said members are currently being canvassed about a potential action.
Ms Early indication show more than 100 members in support of an action as soon as possible.
“The walk off the officers are considering will be in Darwin and Alice Springs prisons, at this stage it probably won’t include the watchouses because we want to ensure the safety of the police officers ” she said.
“At the moment, we’re considering staffing the watchouses, and we’ll be talking to the police union.”
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