Corrections ‘dysfunctional’ amid worker shortfalls, unions say

The Corrections Department has acknowledged deep shortfalls in staffing within the Territory’s prisons after a union delegate provided figures on Friday.

THE Attorney-General’s Department has acknowledged severe shortstaffing within the Territory’s correctional facilities after unions unveiled figures indicating a significant lack of personnel, particularly in Alice Springs.

Justice Minister Chansey Paech was unable to tell Estimates on Tuesday how many positions within prisons were unfilled.

The same hearing revealed attrition within Corrections had hit 10 per cent and workers within the department had racked up $13m in overtime to make up for shortstaffing.

Corrections officer and union delegate Phil Tilbrook told ABC Radio on Friday that Corrections was a “dysfunctional service”.

“We’re not providing the services that are required to our prisoners, we are suffering from severe overcrowding, we have prisoners sleeping on floors, we have increased lockdowns,” Mr Tilbrook said.

The Alice Springs Correctional Centre

“Yet we are severely short-staffed and we are still required to do the same amount of work every day.”

Mr Tilbrook said he was “disappointed” to learn that Mr Paech could not outline how many roles were unfilled within corrections, saying “a simple phone call to the union” could’ve answered the question.

“Our figures are quite clear that across the Territory we are about 64 staff short,” he said.

“Our roster in Alice Springs are 48 (people) short, so everyday Alice Springs is up to 16 staff short.”

The Attorney-General’s office was unable to corroborate whether those figures were accurate.

Mr Paech told Estimates last week he could not provide a figure because the numbers “fluctuate”.

In a statement, a government spokeswoman said the Attorney-General’s department acknowledged “that there is a staff shortage in custodial operations”.

“This year, an additional $12.628m has been allocated to correctional services to address pressures on the organisation,” the spokeswoman said.

She said 55 additional corrections officers had been recruited since the start of this year, and 16 further workers would commence in September, evenly split between Darwin and Alice Springs.

“An additional course starting in October is currently advertised – seeking to find at least 20 recruits for Darwin and at least 20 recruits for Alice Springs.”

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