Arthur Gorrie protest targets prisons minister Mark Ryan
Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan is putting lives at risk over the running of Queensland’s Arthur Gorrie jail, the private prison workers’ union says.
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CORRECTIVE Services Minister Mark Ryan is putting lives at risk over the running of Queensland’s Arthur Gorrie jail, the private prison workers’ union says.
Dozens of employees are expected to take to the street tomorrow to protest Arthur Gorrie’s owner, American-based company GEO, which the United Voice union says is putting lives at risk with its “profit-driven” business model.
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Protesters will sport gruesome banners depicting blood on the hands of Mr Ryan, because they believe he is ignoring their pleas to have the prison returned to state ownership.
“There’s a litany of failings here in Australia and overseas by this company. The New South Wales Liberal Government has thrown them out of their prisons and it’s time the Queensland Labor government did the same,” United Voice Queensland spokesman Damien Davie said.
Workers have long expressed concerns about overcrowding at the prison which has led to serious injuries against guards at the hands of inmates.
Employees also feel they have no recourse when an issue arises because GEO does not have a stringent complaint-handling system or an investigative body that oversees it.
Last year, a police officer suffered serious facial injuries after he was assaulted by an inmate.
A recent Crime and Corruption Commission report also found that Queensland’s privately-run prisons created significant corruption risks and lacked oversight by the Corrective Services Ethical Standards Unit.
The protest is expected to take place from midday tomorrow outside the State Government Executive Building at 1 Williams St, Brisbane City.
Mr Ryan said in a statement: “The safety of all custodial officers across Queensland is of paramount importance to me as minister.
“I am more than happy to meet representatives of our valued officers to discuss any concerns they may have.”
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