WorkSafe inspectors refused to enter Darwin prison after riot, claiming it was ‘unsafe’

WORKSAFE inspectors refused to enter the Darwin Correctional Centre to inspect damage after a major riot because they deemed it unsafe, a leaked email shows.

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WORKSAFE inspectors refused to enter the Darwin Correctional Centre to inspect damage after a major riot because they deemed it unsafe.

A leaked email, seen by the NT News, shows the inspect­ors were due to attend the prison in June but refused to do so.

The email, sent to corrections staff from senior WorkSafe inspector Jasmine Currington, says: “My Team Leader has instructed Chris and I not to enter the prison at this stage due to personal safety concerns and requested that we gather additional inform­ation.”

Prison officers say it’s absurd they have been forced to work in a facility that the government’s own health and safety watchdog refuses to enter.

“WorkSafe won’t go in there but it’s all right for us,” one officer said. “But we don’t count, we’re not human.

“It’s a dog’s breakfast and we’re the ones who have to work with it and have to fix it.”

Emergency service vehicles arrive at the Darwin Correctional Facility after prisoners were reported on the roof after a mass breakout. Picture: Che Chorley

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The prison suffered extens­ive damage when police allege 21 inmates were involved in the five-hour riot on May 13.

The NT News understands the damage bill will run to at least $27m.

The Department of Attor­ney-General and Justice ­declined to comment on the issue, referring questions to Attorney-General Selena Uibo.

Ms Uibo said she visited the prison with Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn last week but would not say how much the repair bill would be.

“I did see some of the damage from that particular incident,” she said.

“The work that has been done by the corrections officers since then has been hugely supportive work and I’d like to acknowledge that.”

She said she would work with prison officers to ensure safety was a priority.

“I’ll be reviewing the work that’s been done already and listening to the officers on the ground,” she said.

Emergency service vehicles arrive at the Darwin Correctional Facility after prisoners were reported on the roof after a mass breakout. Picture: Che Chorley

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Ms Uibo said she was yet to meet with WorkSafe and was unaware of its specific concerns about prison safety but would work through those ­issues with the agency.

The 21 prisoners allegedly involved in the riot are facing criminal charges over the incident.

The NT government hired professor John Paget to conduct an independent investig­ation into the riot but has not said if it will make the findings of his investigation public.

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