The CLP Government supports all Department of Corrections staff who have been placed in a difficult situation, bearing the brunt of years of neglect of the corrections system.
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said: "I support Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley's decisive action to address this evolving emergency situation."
"I want to personally express my deep gratitude and support for all our Corrections staff during this emergency situation," he said.
The CLP Government is implementing reforms to keep Territorians safe, while also addressing overcrowding and the safety of correctional staff.
"This isn't about competing priorities; we are committed to protecting the community and safeguarding our corrections system. We are addressing both pressing issues concurrently," said Mr Maley.
"One of the first things I did as Minister for Corrections was to sit down with Commissioner Varley for a comprehensive briefing, which gave our government full visibility of the extent of this crisis."
In just eight weeks, the CLP Government worked closely with the Commissioner to finalise an urgent and comprehensive three-step plan that provides immediate relief to overcrowded prisons, long-term infrastructure solutions - and focuses on rehabilitation.
As a matter of urgency, the first tranche will commence in November:
Opening of the new Youth Justice Centre at Holtze, which will become the principal youth detention facility for the Northern Territory.Immediate conversion of the former Berrimah jail for temporary use by up to 50 low-security male prisoners, adding 200 beds by early next year. This facility is scheduled to close in December 2026.
In his 2019 annual report, then-NT Parole Board chairman Justice Stephen Southwood stated: "The operation of the two correctional centres in the Northern Territory is reaching a critical tipping point".
"That was five years ago, and Labor ministers in charge of Corrections, which included the now Opposition Leader Selena Uibo and Member for Gwoja Chansey Paech, sat on their hands and watched this problem fester," said Mr Maley.
"The CLP Government is not only listening to Corrections staff concerns but also acting. We are working with the Commissioner to address this crisis with the seriousness and urgency it demands.
"I want to personally thank all our corrections staff for their resilience, dedication, and service during this challenging time."
Northern Territory Government
