Inmates working on blighted NSW buses which promised to create ‘100 local jobs’

The Opposition has raised concerns over how many local jobs will be created at a NSW Government-backed bus hub, after it was revealed inmates will be working on the site.

Prison inmates are building buses at a new manufacturing hub championed by the Minns government, with the Opposition warning the arrangement could undermine the number of local jobs promised.

Foton Mobility Distribution – which has been contracted by the NSW government to deliver 126 new electric buses – confirmed four of 19 employees at its Nowra bus-construction centre were inmates from the nearby South Coast Correctional Centre.

That is despite the Minns government’s pledge that, once construction ramped up at the site, it would provide 100 jobs for locals.

The Daily Telegraph also revealed in May that the new buses Premier Chris Minns had pledged would be built in NSW were largely constructed at Foton’s headquarters in China, before being sent to Nowra for final fit-out works.

Coalition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward queried how many jobs would end up being provided to locals.

The first batch of new electric buses at Foton’s Beijing headquarters before they were delivered to NSW, despite promises they’d be constructed in the state. Picture: Facebook

“This whole saga is a con-job. They promised local manufacturing and handed out a contract to China. They promised local jobs and gave them to inmates,” she said.

“These jobs were for people who live in Nowra by choice, not by conviction.”

A Foton Mobility Distribution spokesman said the company and its subsidiaries “aim to contribute more to the Australian market than good quality zero emission buses and trucks”.

“Our company is deeply committed to providing local jobs to local people,” he said.

The company confirmed that of 19 employees currently working at the site, four are from the nearby correctional centre and participating in a work release program.

Foton delivered the first batch of 126 electric buses to the New South Wales government in May. Picture: Facebook

“Our target is to employ up to 20 per cent of our workforce from various backgrounds, including the Indigenous community and the disability sector, as well as worthy government programs like the Corrective Services NSW Work Release program,” he said.

A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said some minimum-security inmates who are nearing release are given the opportunity to participate in its work release program.

“Corrective Services NSW encourages all inmates to gain skills and experience in custody to increase their chances of securing regular employment post-release, which has been shown to reduce reoffending,” she said.

“Corrective Services NSW currently has inmates participating in a work release program employed by a subsidiary company of Foton Mobility, operating a bus assembly plant in Nowra.”

It’s understood all inmates participating in the work release program are electronically monitored, with all workers paid full award wages and benefits.

The Telegraph revealed in May the first batch of buses – which the NSW Government pledged would be built in NSW – were almost completely built in China, before being transported to Nowra for final fitting out works.

Originally published as Inmates working on blighted NSW buses which promised to create ‘100 local jobs’