The Finocchiaro CLP Government's Correctional Services Legislative Amendment Bill 2025 has been passed in Parliament, delivering critical workforce reforms to support Corrections staff and ease workforce pressures.
The Commissioner of Corrections now has the authority to appoint Special Officers, enabling the engagement of experienced interstate Corrections Officers and qualified external correctional services providers.
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said these reforms showed the CLP prioritised NT Corrections staff and ensured a more flexible, responsive, and sustainable workforce.
"Our Corrections officers do an outstanding job under immense pressure, and these legislative changes will ensure they receive the support they need to continue their important work," said Mr Maley.
"Prisoner numbers have increased significantly, and our frontline staff have been stretched too thin for too long.
"This will give the Corrections Commissioner the powers to draw on surge capacity where needed, it will reduce fatigue and ensure the ongoing safety and effectiveness of our corrections system."
The amendments to the Correctional Services Act 2014 enable the Commissioner to:
Appoint Special Correctional Officers and Special Probation and Parole Officers;Define the scope of their functions and responsibilities; andEstablish clear accountability and compliance measures in line with national correctional standards.
The changes allow the Commissioner to direct additional personnel for roles such as prisoner transport, hospital escorts, electronic monitoring, and compliance activities, ensuring existing corrections officers remain focused on their core custodial responsibilities.
"Custodial staff currently spend around 168,000 hours each year in watch houses and escorting prisoners - drawing them away from their core duties and costing the equivalent to approximately $11 million in overtime," said Mr Maley.
"These reforms will allow trained personnel to take on roles such as prisoner transport and escort duties, freeing up our officers to focus on security, rehabilitation, and operational priorities within correctional centres."
The new provisions also align Corrections with the Police Administration Act 1978, which allows the Police Commissioner to appoint Special Constables for surge capacity, such as the deployment of South Australian officers in Alice Springs.
These changes do not replace ongoing recruitment efforts, instead they provide an essential mechanism to manage workforce challenges and ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of both staff and prisoners.
"I want to acknowledge and thank our dedicated Corrections staff. I am incredibly proud of your commitment during this challenging time," said Mr Maley.
Our government is fully committed to ensuring a professional and qualified workforce that will support and strengthen the important work you do every day.
