NSW Corrective Services Commissioner on indefinite leave following Wayne Astill special inquiry

The NSW Corrections Commissioner has been asked to go “on leave” just days after rejecting a special inquiry’s claims he was responsible for the ongoing abuse of inmates at the hands of former prison officer Wayne Astill.

NSW Correctional Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran at Goulburn Supermax prison. Photo: NO BYELINE

NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran has been asked by the department secretary to go on leave – just days after giving evidence at a special inquiry into offending by former corrections officer Wayne Astill at a western Sydney women’s prison.

The commissioner is understood to already be on leave, with Deputy Commissioner Leon Taylor installed as Interim CSNSW Commissioner.

NSW Correctional Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran at Goulburn Supermax prison. Photo:

Senior sources inside CSNSW said staff were notified of the snap decision on November 25, two days after Commissioner Corcoran rejected claims he was ultimately responsible for the ongoing abuse of inmates at the hands of Wayne Astill.

Throughout the special inquiry, the CSNSW Commissioner was questioned over whether or not Mr Corcoran followed through on monitoring the response to allegations against Astill, while he held the role of assistant commissioner.

Special inquiry commissioner Peter McClellan questioned Mr Corcoran over whether he would accept responsibility for “mutliple failures” in response to the extent of the offending of Wayne Astill, which he described as a “catastrophe”.

Mr Corcoran said he took responsibility for “some of those failures”.

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NSW Government sources confirmed Mr Corcoran was asked to go on leave by DCJ Secretary Michael Tidball.

A Department of Communities and Justice spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph the secretary had been closely monitoring the inquiry.

DCJ Secretary Michael Tidball. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“So as not to distract from the effective management of Corrective Services, Commissioner Corcoran has taken a period of leave,” she said. “The Secretary has asked Leon Taylor to perform the role of Commissioner Corrective Services while Commissioner Corcoran is on leave.

“DCJ will continue to provide support to the brave witnesses who came forward and provided evidence to the Inquiry.

“Respecting the process of the (Commissioner) Peter McClellan, the Secretary will not comment further at this time.

Dillwynia Prison. Picture: Tim Hunter.

During his submission to the inquiry, the CSNSW commissioner “unreservedly apologised” to the victims of Astill, with the “evidence surrounding his offending has demonstrated reforms we have made”, while also apologising to staff at Dillwynia “who had to go through some pretty horrendous things”.

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Correctives Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said he has been “deeply troubled by the circumstances surrounding Mr Astill’s offending, conviction and the evidence heard so far”.

“We’ve granted Mr McClellan the extensive powers of a Special Commission of Inquiry to investigate and provide recommendations to the government,” he said. “It is critical that this process is respected, and that Corrective Services NSW can continue its important work without distraction.”

Special inquiry Commissioner McClellan is investigating whether any CSNSW employee had knowledge or suspicion of Astill’s offending or whether any member of the management team at Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre had knowledge or reasonable suspicion of Astill’s offending and whether they acted upon this knowledge or suspicion.

Wayne Astill pictured leaving the Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The western Sydney prison officer was found guilty of more than 30 offences against multiple inmates before he was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and four months jail.

Commissioner McClellan is expected to issue a report, due to be delivered to Corrective Services Minister Anoulack Chanthivong by December 15.