Ex-Qld dog squad boss to take over troubled NSW jail

A prison dog squad boss from Queensland known for being “dependable in a crisis” has been wooed back to NSW by the Minns government to take over NSW’s jails after the serial rape saga.

A prison dog squad boss from Queensland known for being “dependable in a crisis” has been wooed back to NSW by the Minns government to take over the State’s jails after the serial rape saga.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Gary McCahon, who started his career in corrections in north Queensland in the 1980s, has been handed the job of NSW Corrective Services Commission to restore integrity within the prison network following the Astill scandal.

Wayne Astill, a former prison boss, was in 2022 jailed for a minimum of 15 years after being found guilty on 27 charges for his abuse of inmates while working at the Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney’s west.

Mr McCahon has four decades’ experience in corrections, most recently spending four years as Deputy Commissioner, Custodial Operations for Queensland Corrective Services.

However, he has also spent time in NSW prisons, including as head of the Brush Farm Corrective Services Academy in Sydney, director of custodial operations for the northwest and southwest regions, and as general manager of the State Operations Group.

Gary McCahon receiving a Public Service Medal when he was Queensland Corrective Services Deputy Commissioner.

Mr McCahon began his career as a prison officer in Townsville Prison in the 1980s, where he rose through the ranks, taking on various roles including State Coordinator Dog Squad.

In September, he was awarded the national Public Service Medal for his 40 years of outstanding service to corrections, including transitioning two privately-run prisons to public operations, and implementing the Officer Safety (Use of Force) review recommendations.

His colleagues have described him as someone who is “dependable in a crisis”.

Mr McCahon, 63, who says he is driven by “reform” and “ethical leadership” told The Daily Telegraph that the key to managing inmates was to keep them busy.

Disgraced prison guard Wayne Astill.

High profile NSW prisoner Bassam Hamzy.

Asked about the revelations in The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday of claims an underworld figure allegedly sent coded messages over the chat function off the Triple J Unearthed app to order a jail bashing of gang boss Bassam Hamzy in an exercise yarn at Goulburn Supermax in February this year, Mr McCahon said the use of technology in prisons was an ongoing concern.

“There will always be incidents in prison. What I try to hone in on is the skills on how we manage these incidents,” he said.

Gary McCahon. Picture: Facebook

Gary McCahon (second from left) in dog squad in 1993.

“They will always find ingenious ways to get around the system. Prisons today have evolved so much. The use of technology is a concern for us, and we need to make sure we have proper safeguards to manage that.

“They are very smart people and creative and they have a lot of time to think. It’s very, very important (to keep them busy). You want to have them at work, in a program or in bed. If they have idle time, they will become an issue.”

Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said that Mr McCahon will report directly to him, a move that follows the State government legislating to make NSW Corrective Services a stand-alone agency to “lift standards” following the inquiry.

“I am confident that Commissioner McCahon has the experience and skills to lead Corrective Services’ 10,000 staff as they embark on wide-ranging reforms to rebuild public trust and confidence in this important agency,” he said.

Mr McCahon will begin March 3.