New Supermax 2 jail at Goulburn purpose-built for terrorists, ISIS fighters

Australia’s first purpose-built terrorism jail has opened for business to house the nation’s most dangerous criminals amid fears of further returns and arrests of Islamic State fighters and their sympathisers.

Australia’s first purpose-built terrorism jail has opened for business to double capacity to take in the nation’s most dangerous, amid expectations of further returns and arrests of Islamic State fighters and their sympathisers.

With dignitaries, armed escorts and a band playing The Jacksons 5’s Blame it on the Boogie, the 46-cell Supermax 2 facility at Goulburn was inaugurated today.

An armed guard at the new Supermax 2 facility. Picture: Sean Davey

The state-of-the-art facility was partly built by the prisoners themselves with 21,000 hours of work, including painting and basic brickwork, performed by inmates.

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Corrective Services commissioner Peter Severin said the new facility would allow radicalised extremists to be engaged in a safe and secure, individual way, rather than allowing them in the general prison population to potentially infect others.

The new centre has been set up to keep radicals away from the general prison population. Picture: Sean Davey.

An individual cell at the new facility in Goulburn. Picture by Sean Davey.

“We have created an alternative placement for those who pose the greatest risk to the safety and security, and indeed national security, here within the Goulburn correctional complex in a step that will enhance community safety and give us an opportunity to engage in far more individualised management of those who pose a risk to the system,” he said.

A telephone for inmates. Picture: Sean Davey

Computers are available for prisoner’s use, but without internet. Picture: Sean Davey

Architects and engineers and prison systems overseas were consulted to make the facility the most unique and modern in the country, fully digitised, electric-fenced and controlled around-the-clock with 159 CCTV cameras.

Overseas experts were consulted to ensure the centre was ready for Australia’s most dangerous inmates.

The prison is “future-proofed” for any increase in the terror population. Pictures: Sean Davey.

Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said Australia largely had a cohesive society.

“But there are individuals and organisations that seek to threaten that,” he said.

“The likelihood of a (terror) event is probable and we are in a high risk environment.”

A TV in a cell at the new facility. Picture: Sean Davey

Prisoner cells at the High Risk Management Correctional Centre Area 2. Picture: Sean Davey

Goulburn Correctional Centre governor Larry Bolger said the prison system worldwide was dynamic, and while this terror-related facility was new for Australia, it was known overseas.

“Having come from England and 40 years of terror-related issues, the IRA, etc it may be new to Australia, but is something that needed to happen,” he said.

There are more than 150 CCTV cameras watching over the terror jail. Picture: Sean Davey

Anthony Roberts and Peter Severin take a tour of the facility with Operations Manager Shaun Danby. Picture: Sean Davey

He said the facility was future-proofed as best as could be to handle any greater increase in the terror population.

“We have made this future-proof in terms of modification, not structural, but we can adapt this facility, to whatever we might need to in the next 10 to 15 years.”