Union dismiss letter from Corrections boss to staff
A union is calling proposed legislation ‘an outright attack’ on corrections officers – despite the Corrections Commissioner attempting to allay staff concerns in a letter. Read the latest.
The Corrections Commissioner’s attempt to allay concerns on new legislation has been met with an icy response from the union, who say members and officers “are absolutely offended and angry” by the proposal.
Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley wrote to staff in an attempt to quell concerns about the Correctional Services Legislative Amendment Bill 2025, which is expected to give him the power to employ private contractors.
Ahead of Parliaments resumption on Tuesday, Commissioner Varley told staff their jobs were safe.
“No one is losing their job at Department of Corrections,” he wrote.
“We are not engaging untrained private security guards.
“Correctional officers and probation parole officers under the Act remain public sector employees.”
However, in a response to Commissioner Varley letter, United Workers Union NT secretary Erina Early penned her own letter in reply, in which she said “this decision is an outright attack on the hardworking Correctional Officers who serve in our NT Correctional Services”.
“Your officers are absolutely offended and angered by both your decision and the Government’s decision to amend the Act. The integrity of the profession and the safety of correctional officers are at stake,” she wrote.
“These proposed Act amendments do nothing but undermine the value of Correctional officers, who are already doing the hard work on a daily basis. There is no respect for the risk of the duties of a Correctional officer.”
A source behind the wire – who wished to remain anonymous – told this masthead there was no consultation with senior staff around the proposed Act amendments.
The source also shot down claims NT prisons were understaffed, telling this masthead there has been an additional 240 new officers in Darwin with the last three years, and another 122 in Alice Springs in the same period.
Commissioner Varley offered concerned staff reassurance that interstate officers, special correctional officers (SCOs) and special probation and parole officers (SPPOs) will undergo security vetting and background checks, and will have qualifications, skills or experience to properly perform their function.
“The department will undertake due diligence in contracting providers for special officer services,” he wrote
“The legislation requires the Commissioner to be satisfied that a special officer has the qualifications, skills, or experience to properly perform their functions.
“Some jurisdictions have had contracted providers with trained officers to conduct prisoner escorts for many years. Many of these companies provide their own officers with Certificate III and IV in Correctional Practice, using the nationally qualifications framework, via Registered Training Organisations.”
Ms Early was not convinced however, calling the implementation of private employees in Territory prisons a “failure in workforce planning”.
“Instead of investing in the long-term recruitment and retention of skilled corrections officers, the government and your department is attempting to plug the gaps with underqualified, temporary staff who lack the training and experience necessary to manage such a critical public service,” she wrote.
“Privatisation in corrections has failed time and time again in other jurisdictions, leading to deteriorating conditions, reduced safety, and increased costs in the long run. It’s a shortsighted move that prioritises profits over public interest.”
Commissioner Varley told staff that these measures are intended to help the Department of Corrections address unprecedented operational pressures.
There has been an 18 per cent increase in the adult prisoner population over the past five months and further growth is anticipated with the CLP government’s recent bail reforms. The Territory has a record high of more than 2700 prisoners in custody.
Community Corrections officers caseload continue to rise sharply, with more than 1600 offenders now under supervision and more than 600 on electronic monitoring devices.
Commissioner Varley told staff that his new ability to appoint special correctional officers and special probation and parole officers will mean he can draw on specialist contractors and the support of interstate colleagues to help relieve “the incredible strain that you, our staff, have been experiencing for a long time”.
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Originally published as Union dismiss letter from Corrections boss to staff
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