NSW government orders inquiry into cover-up of sexual assaults by former prison officer Wayne Astill

The Australian’s investigation into the cover-up of sexual assaults committed by former prison officer Wayne Astill will be subject to an independent inquiry, ordered by the NSW government.

Former prison guard Wayne Gregory Astill. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

The NSW government will launch an independent inquiry into rampant sexual assaults committed by former prison officer Wayne Astill, whose crimes against female inmates were ­allegedly covered up by colleagues and dismissed by high-ranking managers, which then allowed his molestations to ­continue unabated for years.

A retired judge will lead the investigation and report to NSW Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong, who ordered the inquiry after revelations of the cover-up were published by The Australian in recent weeks, prompting some high-ranking officers being referred to police.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Kevin Corcoran held crisis meetings with Mr Chanthivong last week where the breadth of the misconduct and allegations of complicit officers were outlined in detail, resulting in a rare urgent ministerial intervention into the department.

“I’ve been shocked and absolutely appalled by circumstances around Mr Astill’s original charges in 2019, his conviction and the allegations made in its wake. The response to date hasn’t been ­adequate and I’m deeply troubled,” Mr Chanthivong told The Australian, confirming the establishment of an inquiry.

“We’ve got to move quickly but also carefully in designing this review. I’ll have more to say on this process over the coming days.”

Mr Corcoran was the assistant commissioner in charge of custodial services when complaints about Astill were circulated by inmates and staff through the chain of command at Dillwynia Correctional Centre.

Asked whether Mr Corcoran had been made aware of the ­complaints prior to Astill’s arrest in 2019, a spokeswoman for the department said it couldn’t comment because of an ongoing police investigation but would “welcome any inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his (Astill’s) offending.”

Astill was imprisoned for a maximum of 23 years in March after being convicted of the rape and indecent assault of nine female inmates at the Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney’s outer suburbs.

Since then, more than 30 women have come forward with fresh allegations of abuse involving Astill; some have sued the department and had their cases settled with confidential payments, which has prevented further allegations of misconduct being ventilated.

The sheer volume of complaints has prompted the NSW Sex Crimes Squad to form a second strike force to investigate allegations of Astill’s offending.

If these are proven, the former chief correctional officer would stand as one of the worst serial sex offenders in recent state history.

The Australian understands the ministerial inquiry is scheduled to examine whether any CSNSW employees had knowledge or reasonable suspicions of Astill’s misconduct, whether prison management knew of the offending, and whether adequate supervisory systems and oversight were in place.

It’s unclear whether the retired judge, yet to be appointed, will be given the power to compel witnesses or documents from being produced, but the government will consider broadening the inquiry should the findings dictate that it is necessary.

“For this inquiry to do actual justice and for the government to show it is taking this seriously, at a minimum it must involve a public hearing,” said Luke Geary, a partner at law firm Mills Oakley, which is representing a dozen former and serving inmates suing the government over Astill’s offending.

CSNSW has set aside a multimillion-dollar sum of money to manage further settlements.

Mr Geary added: “The inquiry has to include all of Corrections NSW, not just Dillwynia, as it is clear from the criminal trial that Astill was supported by corrections officers who were complicit in the commission of crimes and the suppression of victim complaints.”

He said witnesses needed to be provided with legal representation and trauma counselling, and the findings and recommendations of the inquiry needed to be made public.

In 2022, CSNSW commissioned a review into Bathurst Correctional Centre and Kirkconnell Correctional Centre, led by former NSW Industrial Relations commissioner Jane Seymour and law firm Kingston Reid. The findings of those reviews, which concerned sexual misconduct offences, have not been made public.

During a parliamentary hearing in October, Mr Corcoran said the review’s recommendations had been assigned to a “taskforce to take actions”.