Late push to turn closing Port Phillip Prison into remand centre

Port Phillip Prison leaders are urging workers to push to keep the facility open as a remand centre in the wake of strict new bail laws.

At a meeting hosted by corrections leaders at Port Phillip Prison, workers have been urged to contact government officials demanding the facility stay open as a remand centre following the announcement of strict new bail laws.

With the laws recently having come into effect, the proposal would turn the 700-plus-bed facility into a centre holding those awaiting trial or sentencing, ensuring hundreds of staff could keep their jobs.

Port Phillip Prison being turned into a remand centre could save hundreds of local jobs. Picture: David Caird

Concerns have been raised that the influx of criminals being held in remand would stretch operating centres beyond what they could manage.

Opposition police and corrections spokesman David Southwick recently said the prison population was expected to grow 20 per cent.

In correspondence, which the Herald Sun has seen, G4S prisons director Carol-Anne Nelson listed the contact details of 13 politicians with the message: “Take 5 minutes today to make these calls and send these emails.”

G4S is the private security company in charge of running the Port Phillip Prison.

Premier Jacinta Allan, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and federal member for Lalor Joanne Ryan were among politicians listed.

The message also urges workers to encourage friends and family to reach out to the decision-makers.

“I urge you to call and write to the Premier, the Corrections Minister and your local MP,” it read.

“In your own words tell them why you want Port Phillip Prison to stay open so that you can keep your job along with the jobs of your friends and colleagues … People across Victoria are concerned about crime like never before and with prisoner numbers on the rise the time to act is now.”

The Western Plains Correctional Centre, is a 1248-bed facility that has been sitting empty since it was completed in November 2022. Picture: Mitch Clarke

The Allan government announced the decision to close the maximum security prison in June 2024, while it announced plans to finally have Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara in operation after it was completed in 2022.

A petition has also been started on Change.org by workers at the prison, which has garnered over 750 signatures, “demanding” that the facility remain open with its closure set to impact “hundreds of families”,

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government said they had no plans to repurpose the prison with there being enough room and jobs available at the new facility.

“We have more than enough capacity across the prison system to take on an increase in prisoner numbers, including at our brand new Western Plains facility which is due to open soon,” they said.

“A dedicated recruitment campaign is still ongoing for Port Phillip staff to take on roles at Western Plains and we’re continuing to provide opportunities to affected staff.”

Originally published as Late push to turn closing Port Phillip Prison into remand centre