The Minns Labor Government is taking another step towards rebuilding trust in the NSW corrective services system.
A $30 million investment will support changes to lift standards, deliver better workplaces for staff and protect inmates.
The investment comes as the NSW Government releases its formal response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Offending of Former Corrections Officer Wayne Astill.
All recommendations of the Inquiry have been accepted in full or in principle. The NSW Government is getting on with the most urgent action while working through the longer-term reforms.
The Inquiry, led by former High Court Justice Peter McClellan and initiated by the Minns Labor Government, found multiple failings in the management and culture at Dillwynia Correctional Centre and across the Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) system.
These failures allowed unconscionable offences to occur inside the justice system and meant staff who tried to speak up were silenced.
The Inquiry followed a decade of reports and reviews that pointed to serious problems but were ignored.
The report and the Government's response does not remedy what these women have endured.
The crimes and systemic problems outlined by the Special Commission are deplorable and inexcusable.
The NSW Government is committed to undertaking the reform necessary to ensure inmates are properly protected and hardworking staff are safe and supported, including:
Protecting inmates
- Hundreds of new CCTV cameras and a network wide capacity to store and access footage for at least 90 days, meaning serious matters can be reviewed (Rec 1). These cameras will be in addition to those recently installed in priority areas at Dillwynia.
- An advocacy service will be established to ensure female inmates can voice concerns (Rec 20).
- CSNSW will develop a Women's Strategy that includes mandatory training for all new CSNSW staff working in female correctional centres (Rec 30).
Safer workplaces for staff
- New staff misconduct processes and procedures, including improved triaging, allowing faster resolutions. This will complement recent announcements designed to clarify the line of accountability between the Minister for Corrections and CSNSW, while keeping investigations at arm's length within the Department of Communities and Justice (Rec 6, 7, 8 and 9).
- Better contraband detection with more K9 drug detection dogs to keep prisons safer and reduce the risk of coercion and bribery (Rec 25).
- The Government will work with staff to put in place policies and procedures to better manage workplace relationships and conflicts between employees, in consultation with staff and their union (Rec 23, 24).
Stronger laws and procedures to prevent misconduct
- The NSW Government will change the law to reduce barriers to prosecutions of staff engaged in inappropriate relationships with inmates (Rec 4).
- The NSW Government will amend the regulations to impose a misconduct reporting obligation on all CSNSW staff (Rec 5).
- Additional staff to improve misconduct management processes.
These changes are in addition to the structural and practical reforms already underway to ensure the NSW prison system is safe for staff and inmates:
- Provision of sexual assault trauma counselling service for the victims of Astill's offending.
- All uniformed staff at Dillwynia Correctional Centre who work with inmates now have body worn cameras.
- CSNSW will be elevated to a stand-alone agency directly accountable to the Minister and the Government.
- In addition to existing avenues of support, a Sexual Misconduct Reporting Line has been established to provide a confidential reporting mechanism for inmates.
- Face to face sexual harassment training has been completed for all employees in leadership, HR, Professional Standards and staff support roles.
- A compulsory on-line sexual harassment awareness training module has been launched to be completed by all CSNSW staff.
The NSW Government's response to the report can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/the-cabinet-office/resources/special-commissions-of-inquiry/astill
Attributable to Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong
"Our thoughts are with the victims of Wayne Astill's horrific crimes. We again thank the inmates, staff and advocates who spoke up, including to provide the Special Commission with evidence.
"The Astill inquiry found that our prison system had not met the expectations of the community, the NSW Government, or the majority of its 10,000 staff.
"These reforms will help keep inmates safe and they're also designed to fix the culture that has seen too many good staff let down.
"We should accept nothing less than a corrections system that is built on integrity, transparency, safety and respect for both staff and inmates.
"These are significant changes and we'll need to work closely with staff, the union and advocates to get them right."
