Majority support indicated for corrections walk off as inmate numbers soar

A proposed walk off by prison staff has the support of nearly 400 union members, sources say, as the NT corrections system remains in an ‘insane and dangerous’ state of emergency.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley addresses media about the emergency actions being taken due to record high prisoner numbers in the NT. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A proposed walk off by prison staff has the support of nearly 400 union members, sources say, as the Northern Territory corrections system remains in an “insane and dangerous” state of emergency.

Late on Monday, Commissioner Matthew Varley was served papers to appear before the Fair Work Commission in relation to the crisis; the United Workers Union accusing him of misapplying powers to declare an emergency, and of breaching the enterprise bargaining agreement in relation to safe staffing levels.

The ignoble record for most Territorians behind bars was toppled once again on Monday, climbing to 2375, an increase of 55 since last week.

Mr Varley said staff had been working overtime to find beds, including fast-tracking the new youth justice facility to come online, and shuffling inmates between Darwin and Alice Springs to the tune of $64,000.

“This is an unprecedented situation,” he said.

“You can’t have a record prisoner crisis and not have your staff under pressure.

“We’ve recruited hard. Last week we had 681 corrections officers on our books – that’s almost 100 more than this time last year, but we’re already servicing more posts than ever before.”

Mr Varley said he was considering cancelling planned leave in order to fill shifts, but denied rumours prisoners could be moved interstate.

October 27: A transfer of prisoners between Alice Springs and Darwin on the weekend cost taxpayers $64,000. Picture: Gera Kazakov

One correctional officer, who did not want to be named, said the transfer of 20 inmates from Darwin to Alice Springs Correctional Facility on a charter flight had created “insane and dangerous” conditions in the prison.

The officer said there were 695 prisoners in the centre meant to have a 650 person capacity.

UWU is currently canvassing corrections staff for a potential industrial action against unsafe working conditions – spurred by a six point emergency plan initiated by Commissioner Varley on Friday.

Sources said almost 400 staff out of 600 union members indicated support for the strike for safety reasons.

Inmates in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre prison industries in August 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The proposed walk off would not include corrections staff manning watch houses, in order to avoid placing strain on police, UWU confirmed.

Northern Territory Police Association president Nathan Finn thanked the union for the commitment, “considering the strain of prisoner numbers and resources issues they are experiencing”.

Justice Reform Initiative called on the government to urgently engage community-based solutions to help deal with overcrowding, warning new tough on crime measures coming into force would only make the problem worse.

“No one is winning at the moment – not the people who are locked up and confined to their cells for most of the day, nor the prison staff who are being asked to work in unsafe conditions, nor the community, who are not made safer through this failed ‘tough on crime’ approach,” campaign co-ordinator Rocket Bretherton said.

Opposition leader Selena Uibo said the CLP must be “upfront with the community about how much it is costing to shuffle prisoners and corrections staff around the Territory”.