Robert Long: Inside story of the life behind bars of the Childers backpackers hostel mass killer

As he once again bids to be released from jail, prison insiders reveal details about the life behind bars of the “nasty little man” who set fire to a Childers backpackers hostel, killing 15 people, almost 25 years ago to the day.

Childers backpacker mass killer Robert Long has kept to himself in jail while the parole board considers whether to make a “restricted prisoner declaration” against him, which could prevent him from applying for parole for up to 10 years.

Fifteen backpackers died when Long set the Palace hostel on fire in June 2000. He was jailed for a minimum of 20 years.

Long – who unsuccessfully applied for parole in 2020 – has applied for his release from Wolston jail again, as survivors plan to meet for the 25th anniversary of the horrific fire.

SPECIAL REPORT: HOW EVERYTHING CHANGED AFTER THE FIRE

Queensland Corrective Services this week said his application would not be considered while the parole board determines whether to make a “restricted prisoner declaration” against him, which could stop him from applying for his release again for up to 10 years.

Robert Paul Long who was found guilty of lighting the fatal Palace Backpackers Hostel fire at Childers.

The Courier-Mail has been told Long remains in the secure section of the jail, rather than the cushier residential area, after he took to a roof top to protest years ago.

He lost his jail job as a carer for geriatric prisoners after the 2023 protest in which he stayed on the roof for about two days. It’s understood the protest related to claims made by other prisoners.

“As far as crims go he’s OK,” an officer said of Long.

“He talks about how he never intended to kill them.

“He (says he) lit the fire and thought they would escape, according to him anyway.

“He pretty much keeps to himself.”

Long was charged and convicted with arson and two counts of murder of twins Kelly and Stacey Slarke but not over the 13 other deaths.

Newspaper reports at the time said this procedure was followed to expedite proceedings and to also allow other charges to be made against Long if he was acquitted.

When he was jailed, Supreme Court Justice Peter Dutney imposed a non-parole period of 20 years but said authorities would have to give “careful consideration” before ever releasing Long.

Survivors of the fire including Richard Tempest, who still lives in Queensland, said Long should never be released.

Twins Stacey and Kelly Slarke. Long was found guilty of their murder, but not of the other 13 victims of the fire.

“I think he will never be rehabilitated, he just needs to stay in those four walls for the rest of his life,” he said.

A previous inmate at the jail referred to Long as a “nasty little man”.

“He won’t be an asset in the community because he is a snaky, snaky, little bastard,” the prisoner said.

“Unfortunately he is not old enough to be written off as a menace to society.”

If a restricted prisoner declaration is made against Long, it could trigger him not being able to apply for parole again for up to 10 years.

In 2021 the government introduced new laws to stop the “worst of the worst” murderers from getting out of jail, prompted by a parole application made by Barrie Watts who murdered schoolgirl Sian Kingi.

The laws allow the Parole Board president to stop child killers and people convicted of multiple murders from applying for parole for up to 10 years

Long is being represented by law firm Jones and Associates, however the firm declined to comment when contacted.

Originally published as Robert Long: Inside story of the life behind bars of the Childers backpackers hostel mass killer