Michael Thomas says overcrowding the key issue at Townsville Correctional Centre

A union representative says the many issues plaguing a Townsville prison cannot be fixed until the major problem of overcrowding is solved, but admits it is just getting worse.

A union representative says the many issues plaguing a Townsville prison cannot be fixed until the major problem of overcrowding is solved, but admits it is just getting worse.

Together Union director of industrial services Michael Thomas said the past 12 months at Townsville Correctional Centre had been trying, with the impacts of COVID-19, stress of management change and increased assaults putting pressure on staff.

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He said the core issue was overcrowding, with many prisoners doubled-up in cells designed for one person, saying it was already a “ridiculously small space”.

Mr Thomas said most of the prison’s issues would be fixed if overcrowding was rectified.

“It creates stress among prisoners, which in turn becomes increased assaults on prisoners and increased assaults on staff,” he said.

“It can only be rectified by more capacity.”

Earlier this year, former general manager Peter Hall was stood down on allegations of inappropriate behaviour after months of claims of a toxic workplace.

Michael Thomas from the Together Union (purple shirt). Pic Jono Searle.

Mr Thomas said things have improved since the shake-up and the culture was better, but the prison was still under the strain of overcrowding.

The planned $618.8 million expansion to the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre and addition of hundreds more beds at the Capricornia Correctional Centre will help ease these tensions in Townsville, but Mr Thomas said there was still a huge issue with the number of people being incarcerated.

“The community needs to care about what’s happening in there.

“The reality is the turnaround time (for people in prison) is about six months, so people are coming in and out of jail and not being rehabilitated.”

Mr Thomas said the union was still pushing for better control measures at the prison and that there was work already happening in the training space to make sure officers were better protected.

Originally published as Michael Thomas says overcrowding the key issue at Townsville Correctional Centre