NT Ombudsman Peter Shoyer’s annual report reveals heat, overcrowding issues at Alice jail

A report by the NT Ombudsman has revealed Territory prisoners are living in sweltering conditions. Read what he wants done.

The Territory’s top watchdog has “urged” the NT government to immediately address extreme heat conditions inside the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.

NT Omudsman Peter Shoyer said ongoing issue about heat stress were raised in numerous reports and with Correctional Services as the temperature inside cells exceeded 40 degrees during the summer months.

Mr Shoyer wrote in the Ombudsman’s annual report that “airconditioning is likely to be the only truly effective measure in the prison environment in the long run”.

“Unlike other residents of the town, prisoners are highly restricted in their movements and the steps they can take to stay cool,” the report reads.

“They are often confined for much of the day and night, with other prisoners, in a small cell, with limited air flow.”

Northern Territory Ombudsman Peter Shoyer. Picture: Patrina Malone

Mr Shoyer said overcrowding inside the facility exacerbated the conditions, particularly when inmate numbers “exceed the facility’s design capacity” forcing people to share in cramped spaces.

“Prisoners who are hot, tired and aggravated from sleepless nights brought on by extreme heat are not so easily amenable to compliance and more prone to outbursts,” he said.

“The reality of climate change means that this issue will only get worse and needs to be effectively addressed.”

Four years ago, during the 2018 summer, prisoners were tear gassed after a riot at the facility broke out.

It was believed to be sparked by scorching Central Australian temperatures.

Mr Shoyer said some conciliations had been made since then, including new outdoor shade cloths and new dormitory doors that allowed better ventilation.

“These measures are to be commended but in reality, inmates and staff will continue to deal with heat stress on a regular basis until more significant heat reduction measures are taken,” he wrote.

“Heat stress not only impacts negatively on prisoner comfort, welfare and safety but also on the good management of the prisons.”

Attorney-General Chansey Paech said there was currently no funding allocated to install aircondition in Territory jails. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the government had worked hard with staff on improvements.

“Continuous improvement is a feature of our government,” Mr Paech said.

“We’ll continue to work with our correctional centres to make sure that the standards and the conditions are always being looked at and considered should there be any issues,” he said.

“Look across the Northern Territory, there are different climatic options and controls, certainly in the correctional environments, the way that they have been designed and built over the years takes into account those considerations.”

However, Mr Paech confirmed there was no funding allocation for the installation of airconditioning in either Darwin or Alice correctional centers in the 2022/23 budget.