Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is going to be such a busy morning today,
and we know that the Government yesterday introduced amendments to
the Correctional Services Act to give the Corrections Commissioner the
power to appoint special well special correctional officers as well
as special Probation and parole officers. Now the amendments are
being made in an effort to support the call corrections workforce.
(00:21):
The Government says it's going to allow the Commissioner to
bring in experienced intero state correctional officers and we did
speak about this last week with Commissioner Valley. The problem
is the correctional staff already working in our correction facilities
are really not happy about the changes. They converged on
Parliament House earlier in the week to make that known.
(00:41):
Now joining me on the show is the Corrections Minister,
Jared Mayley. Good morning to your.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Minister, Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Great to have you on the show now, Jared, these
amendments introduced yesterday, what are you hoping that they'll achieve?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Okay, what we're trying to do. We're trying to find
a practical solution to a staff shortage in the correction system.
We know that over the last eight years that the
Labor government failed to invest in the infrastructure and deal
with the issues. We also know that there's been an
additional five hundred prisoners arrested over the last five months.
Because one of the key priorities for the Lea Pinocchio
(01:19):
government is who keep the community safe? So there's been
a big increase in prison numbers and we need to
make sure that the prisoners are looked after and that
the staff are also looked after in relation to working
a normal week essentially, So there's been a shortage of staff,
and what we intend to do is give the commissioners
some more options to resource his staffing better, to be
(01:42):
able to move the staff around to make sure that
the prisoners are full and that they're safe and the
prisoners are safe.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Minister, you've got a real juggle on your hands at
the moment, because you know, the general public are sort
of seeing this as as support for correctional service officers.
Those correctional service officers, though, who are working in these
really important, really pivotal jobs, are not happy. They are
saying that this isn't going to be helpful. They're worried
(02:09):
that you're going to privatize the workforce and they're worried
about safety.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Look, I can say clearly, we are not privatizing the
prison system. This is about giving the commissioner more resources
and more flexibility in relation to the workforce. We know
that the prison union we're out earlier this year saying
that they're understaffed and overworked. I've gone to the commissions
that we need all options on the table because we
need to make sure that the prison officers are safe
and they work a reasonable hours. And what I've been
(02:37):
told is we know that there's been services been cut,
like some educational services and rehabilitation services and some going
in in the community services. That's purely because of short staff.
Remember we brought online the Bremercrectional Center. We're bringing online
more beds in our springs. We're brought on the Holtz
Juvenile Center out at Holt. There's been a massive increase
(02:58):
in numbers. There's been more facilities broad on. We know
we're selling watchhouses, so it's really an issue of trying
to manage the staff. We also know that last year
there was over one hundred and sixty thousand hours and
escorting prisoners around and that's where prisoners who are from
the prison into the court or into the hospital visits.
(03:19):
The Commission of Ali said this morning that there's at
least five officers or five prisoners admitted into prison each day,
and that takes two officers to sit with them. So
that's four on a twenty four hour period.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Minister.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We takes them away from their It takes the prison
officers away from their core duty, which is looking after
the prisoners in the prisons.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
When you talk about the number of hours, did you
say one hundred and sixty thousand hours.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yes, it ain't overtime.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
In a twelve month period, yes, which.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Costs about eleven million dollars in overtime costs.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
And that's going to be my next question. I mean
that was going to be my next question. How much
does it cost so eleven million dollars over.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
The course of a year, Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How much is it going to cost us to privatize
this part of the workforce, I the transportation and the
prisoner escorts to hospital and to courts.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Look, we haven't announced that cost yet because what we
don't want to do, Katie, is to go out there
and give an estimate what we think is going to be. Remember,
we're trying to get the best bang for taxpayers money here,
I do.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I get that, But then I know that you guys,
you know this week or last week, we're very critical
of the former government not sort of announcing how much
things are going to cost. So do you reckon? Territorians
have a right to know.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Look, this is a commercial procurement process. We need to
make sure we get best bang for buck. We want
to go into the private texture and say this is
the scope of work we want how much are you
going to charge us? Because what we don't want to
just go and spend taxpayers money left over or a lot,
because that's what the Labor government did. We're going to
make sure that we manage it correctly and it's all
(04:56):
about privacy and we need to do it a commercial feel.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Do you reckon it'll be less low than that eleven
million dollars?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Okay, Now I know that the Correctional officers converged on
Parliament House earlier this week. They're obviously worried, as I've
pointed out, you know, to these changes. They're concerned for
a whole raft of reasons. Why won't you meet with
them and the union.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Look, the Commissioner has tried to meet with the union
to give them an update what's going on. The union
canceled that meeting. There's been some correspondence back and forth
between the union and myself. Ultimately, it's an operational matter
and we know that there's some fact sheet. There's no
information that's been given out to the union. Effectively, they're
the ones that cancel the initial meeting, and we really
(05:41):
want to try and work with them, but it's an
operational thing and we need to make sure that we've
been working on it and hold on me for months now.
The head of the union we all know is the
Mouthpeace Labor. She was working with them previously. I've visited
correctional facilities right across in Northern and I've spoke with
the workforce directly.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean, I guess you know whether there's involvement, you know,
whether she's I don't know that she worked for the
previous labor government. She has obviously been with the union
for quite some time. I'm not going to speak on
her behalf, but I guess what she is doing is
obviously doing her job or trying to do a job
in terms of representing those correctional officers that are part
(06:23):
of the union, and they've said that they don't want
to meet with the Commissioner, they want to meet with you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well, ultimately, the union can ask what they like, but
we're trying to represent the entire workforce. This is about drawing,
letting the Commission draw on a surge workforce from inter
state to be able to deal with the staffing crisis
that's caused over the previous years.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Do you reckon that there are members of that workforce
that are okay with what's happening and that the union
sort of muck raking or what do you think's happening here?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well, look, ultimately I don't want to speak on behalf,
but I've been to all the prison around in all
the churchy being to the watch houses, and I've talked
to the staff and they're all friendly, they all talk
to me and they're happy doing the job. But what
I want to tell them is no one's going to
lose their job. We're going to allow the Commission to
have more reasons to do their job better. They are
highly skilled workforce. They look after prisoners into prison and
(07:16):
that's what we want to continue and we want to
support them by not having them go out and do
all these prison transports. Like I said, they're highly trained.
Their job is look after the prisoners into the prison
and we want to support them do that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Minister. One of the other concerns right now is obviously
the fact that the watch houses are being utilized to
house prisoners now. Questions had been raised by the Union
earlier this week. I know that you're also asked about
this during question time by the Independent Justine Davis about
Stringy Bark. Why isn't it being used if it could
(07:50):
house up to one hundred and sixty prisoners. From what we've.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Been told, well, a number of issues. One is a
staffing issue too. It's a cost issue. We've been told
that it could be up around six million dollars to
get that string your Bark operational six million, six million
because ultimately, remember when you start renovating things, you need
to go to the new Australian standards. I know that
there is issue for the fire safety, there's some ventilation upgrade,
(08:16):
Cee City footage upgrades. We needed strength in the door,
strength in the rooms, and remember our community is to
move the prison precinc out to Holts, and what we
don't want to do is spend money in a facility
and then just get rid of it. We know we're
spending money in Burma, we're getting it up and running,
but we are moving out to Holt and it's going
to take some time because the previous government failed to
(08:36):
invest in it and were moving forward.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So you reckon it's not money well spent. I mean
it would though free up all of those watch houses,
wouldn't it if it was operational.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah, But ultimately there are other facility. We know that
there's ninety six speeds coming line in our springs. We
know that we've got the new youth detension facility. We
know that the bearment correctional centers is coming online, so
we need to manage it correctly. We don't want to
just go and spend money all over the place. We
need to make sure that we get the money's right,
we need to get the staffing right. And ultimately this
(09:08):
was about we've got we're short staff and we need
to be able to get this surge in. Just let
the police do Katie. We know that the police brought
up those officers from South Australia. The Police Commission's already
got this power. He can already do this. The Commissioner
for Corrections can't do this, he can't employ people to
help that surge situation. And it's just about being having
a flexible workfloce.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Now, I know you've said that you aren't going to
be meeting with the union. I know that you've said
obviously you know these changes are operational and it's something
that the Commissioner has tried to speak with those union
representatives about. What I can see though from the discussions
that I had with the union yesterday when they spoke
to me on the show, my understanding is that they
are looking to potentially have a vote of no confidence
(09:52):
in Commissioner vari I mean, first off, what do you
make of that?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Well, first off, I can say I've got complete contents
in Commissioner Bali. I've got complete confidence in the executive team.
They are doing a good job under a tremendous amount
of pressure in a very short space of time. Our
laws and our policies in relation to community safety, which
is our number one priority, it is tough. There's been
(10:18):
five hundred more prisoners. They haven't been able to recruit,
and I do say we are still recruiting right now.
I think we've got over thirty recruit officers in training.
It takes eleven week course. So we're not going to
stop recruiting. We're going to continue to recruit curriculal officers.
But we need to make sure we get that balance right.
It's about a surge workforce to support the staff.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I mean, whose idea was it for all of these changes?
Was it a government idea or was it the commissioner's idea?
I guess you know. What I'm getting to is whether
you should actually meet with the union and with those
representatives if it is something that you and your office
have come up with and that the government's come up
with to communicate that.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Well, look, when I first come into office, I didn't
meet with the union. I've met with them face to face.
I have met with them previously. I have met with
them recently about this matter. But I went to the
commissioner and said, what are your problems? And he said, look,
we need support, and I said, give us all the
options on the table, and we want to support you.
We want to support your executive staff, we want to
support your workforce and that's what we're doing.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Yeah. Look, I will say right from the outset, I
am not a voice for the union. I'm just trying
to articulate what they've obviously said to me on the show.
But I mean the concern here is if you've got
a workforce that are really upset at this point in time,
they're really worried about these changes, I just wonder whether
it would be a positive move for you to actually,
(11:40):
you know, have a chat to them and for them
to hear it from you.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah. Ultimately, remember then you don't represent the entire correction
of workforce. Say, there's two unions in that workforce, and
there's a whole lot of other probation officers. I think
there's some like forteen hundred or thirty one hundred staff
incrections overall in the union represent I think just under
half of them. So even though they talking that they
represent the prison off as they do, but there's corrections
is a big, big unit of lots of people, and
(12:06):
we know that there's short staff, we know that services
is being cut, and we want to break the cycle
of reoffending. We need to make sure we've got staff
there for reabilitation. We need to get out in the
community in mow lawns and doing it by the road.
We haven't been able to do because we're short.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Stuff, and I want to get to that because this
is something that a lot of our listeners are really
concerned with. In fact, we've got a heap of messages
this morning. But I spoke to Catherine earlier in the
week now, her ninety nine year old nan she's unable
to have her lawns mode by those low security prisoners anymore.
Because obviously I'm assuming these shortages. Well, I mean it's
(12:42):
really the large number of prisoners that we've got means
that all of those correctional stuff now are back behind
the wire. Is that the reason why you know this
lawn mowing that was happening and this maintenance that was
happening with the low security prisoners isn't happening.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
That's correct, Okay, there's being the staff and those starts
are forced to come behind the wire because we are
transporting prisoners around. We're having prison officers sit doing watchers
at the health system, and we've had prison officers sitting
at the courts. We know that, for example, the Supreme
Court have got private security. They run it. But we
want to make sure that those prison officers get back
(13:18):
into the prisons and do their jobs, that we can
offer those services. Remember, it's not only about mowing their lawns,
which is great. It is about giving some of these
reads an opportunity to get out there and rehab and
redegrade in society and so that when they get out
of prison they've got some skills.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Well, I'm just going to read some of these messages
out too that we have received. So Judea been in
contact with us. She said, My elderly disabled mother has
had the Correctional Services mow her lawn for several years,
as she's eighty four and no longer able to do
it herself. She needs to have a lawn mode to
get from the house to the car to get to
the specialist's appointments. It's near impossible to use a walker
(13:55):
through the lawn grass. She's now going to have to
pay at least one hundred dollars a month for this
serves for a pensioner, that's a lot of money. That's
twenty five dollars a week of her food money that
the Northern Territory government's now taking from her. Now Jude says,
thank you very much Northern Territory government for helping the
decline of quality of life by taking away the service.
(14:15):
I'm very frustrated and really disappointed, Minister. What is there
something we can do here to try and continue to
help these senior territorians that clearly need it.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Ultimately, we're going to try and pass the legislation today.
It's on urgency because we know that there's a staff shortage.
We will be able to start a surge in the
next week or so. So look, we expect to bring
these programs back online in the very near future. So
that's one of the reasons why we're doing it on urgency,
because we've heard the community, We've heard the workforce, I've
(14:50):
heard the conditioner and his executive and something needs to
be done. Katie. This is a year of action. We're
making some tough decisions, how and I fully accept that
some people aren't going to like them. But in the
long run, we want to make sure that the prison
system run smoothly, that the Commissioner has got all the
resources available to make sure that the services that we
are speaking about are up and running and can be
done and expanded as well. We want to make sure
(15:13):
that it's about the rehabilitation, and we want to make
sure that the prison officers work their work a normal
week and go home and spend time with their families.
We need that week.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So obviously that legislation, you're hoping that it's going to
pass this week. I mean, the reality of it is,
so even if that legislation passes this week, do you
then anticipate that we would have a surge workforce from
interstate coming within the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
We look ultimately, I think we need about the Commissioner
saying today we need probably fifty or sixty officers. We're
not going to get them in a couple of weeks,
but we're anticipating some more officers coming in the next
two or three weeks. We've get to get up and
running because we need to get the staffing numbers sorted out.
We can't have this surge in numbers without having an
increased workforce, and we want to bring these services back
(15:58):
in line. The only way to do that is to
get more stuff. Like we're recruiting right now. There's over
thirty officers in the recruit training, but we just can't
keep up and we need to search, just like the
police do with the South Australian Police.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So Minister, what's the message to those pensioners a lot?
You know, like some of these seniors listen to the
show every day that are now without that service, their
children listen to the show. What is your message to
them about, you know, about what some might see as
quite a small thing, you know, their lawns being mode.
But when is it going to get back up and running.
(16:31):
When are those seniors going to be able to be
helped again and those low security prisoners able to get
back out and you know, give back to the community.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Well, look what I can say to them, Katie is look,
we've heard what you say, we understand your situation, and
we're going to get that done as soon as we can.
And what I will do is direct the Commissioner to
that'll be the first service brought back on line. So
as soon as we get our surge forced back in
and we get running, the first thing that will come
back in line is getting those lawns mode and getting
the rebilitation done. So what I can say is that
(17:00):
will be the first service brought back online and we'll
do as soon as we possibly.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Can I know you're absolutely under the pump, and I
am going to let you go. But just one final question.
If that service isn't happening, and if that program isn't happening,
how many of the others aren't I'm assuming that all
of the of the usual rehab programs aren't really able
to happen at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, what's been cut is the industry training and all
the you know, the workforceing that like all the education programs.
I went to the youth Detention center. They've still got
the education programs running. But what is is the services
that run, like the law knowing, the behavioral change programs,
the educational programs, and there's more lockdowns. Look, and I'm
(17:43):
fully acknowledged it's not ideal, but this is why we're
doing what we're doing on urgency. We've got a staff shortage.
These services have been cut because we don't have enough staff.
We've recognized it and like, this is a year of action.
Some people aren't going to like the decisions, but that's
what we're going to do because we need to make
sure that the correction systems that a 've been running
to keep our community safe and offer those services to
(18:04):
those ninety nine year old people who deserve to get
the lawn mode.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely. Yeah, look I think the sooner the better that
we can get to, you know, get those corrections. Well
the prisoners, I should say, back out there and helping
those Northern Territory seniors. Jered Mayley, Minister ful corrections. We'll
leave it there, thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Thank you, Katie, thank you,
It is going to be such a busy morning today,
and we know that the Government yesterday introduced amendments to
the Correctional Services Act to give the Corrections Commissioner the
power to appoint special well special correctional officers as well
as special Probation and parole officers. Now the amendments are
being made in an effort to support the call corrections workforce.
(00:21):
The Government says it's going to allow the Commissioner to
bring in experienced intero state correctional officers and we did
speak about this last week with Commissioner Valley. The problem
is the correctional staff already working in our correction facilities
are really not happy about the changes. They converged on
Parliament House earlier in the week to make that known.
(00:41):
Now joining me on the show is the Corrections Minister,
Jared Mayley. Good morning to your.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Minister, Good morning Katie, and good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Great to have you on the show now, Jared, these
amendments introduced yesterday, what are you hoping that they'll achieve?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Okay, what we're trying to do. We're trying to find
a practical solution to a staff shortage in the correction system.
We know that over the last eight years that the
Labor government failed to invest in the infrastructure and deal
with the issues. We also know that there's been an
additional five hundred prisoners arrested over the last five months.
Because one of the key priorities for the Lea Pinocchio
(01:19):
government is who keep the community safe? So there's been
a big increase in prison numbers and we need to
make sure that the prisoners are looked after and that
the staff are also looked after in relation to working
a normal week essentially, So there's been a shortage of staff,
and what we intend to do is give the commissioners
some more options to resource his staffing better, to be
(01:42):
able to move the staff around to make sure that
the prisoners are full and that they're safe and the
prisoners are safe.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Minister, you've got a real juggle on your hands at
the moment, because you know, the general public are sort
of seeing this as as support for correctional service officers.
Those correctional service officers, though, who are working in these
really important, really pivotal jobs, are not happy. They are
saying that this isn't going to be helpful. They're worried
(02:09):
that you're going to privatize the workforce and they're worried
about safety.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Look, I can say clearly, we are not privatizing the
prison system. This is about giving the commissioner more resources
and more flexibility in relation to the workforce. We know
that the prison union we're out earlier this year saying
that they're understaffed and overworked. I've gone to the commissions
that we need all options on the table because we
need to make sure that the prison officers are safe
and they work a reasonable hours. And what I've been
(02:37):
told is we know that there's been services been cut,
like some educational services and rehabilitation services and some going
in in the community services. That's purely because of short staff.
Remember we brought online the Bremercrectional Center. We're bringing online
more beds in our springs. We're brought on the Holtz
Juvenile Center out at Holt. There's been a massive increase
(02:58):
in numbers. There's been more facilities broad on. We know
we're selling watchhouses, so it's really an issue of trying
to manage the staff. We also know that last year
there was over one hundred and sixty thousand hours and
escorting prisoners around and that's where prisoners who are from
the prison into the court or into the hospital visits.
(03:19):
The Commission of Ali said this morning that there's at
least five officers or five prisoners admitted into prison each day,
and that takes two officers to sit with them. So
that's four on a twenty four hour period.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Minister.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
We takes them away from their It takes the prison
officers away from their core duty, which is looking after
the prisoners in the prisons.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
When you talk about the number of hours, did you
say one hundred and sixty thousand hours.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yes, it ain't overtime.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
In a twelve month period, yes, which.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Costs about eleven million dollars in overtime costs.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
And that's going to be my next question. I mean
that was going to be my next question. How much
does it cost so eleven million dollars over.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
The course of a year, Yes, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How much is it going to cost us to privatize
this part of the workforce, I the transportation and the
prisoner escorts to hospital and to courts.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Look, we haven't announced that cost yet because what we
don't want to do, Katie, is to go out there
and give an estimate what we think is going to be. Remember,
we're trying to get the best bang for taxpayers money here,
I do.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I get that, But then I know that you guys,
you know this week or last week, we're very critical
of the former government not sort of announcing how much
things are going to cost. So do you reckon? Territorians
have a right to know.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Look, this is a commercial procurement process. We need to
make sure we get best bang for buck. We want
to go into the private texture and say this is
the scope of work we want how much are you
going to charge us? Because what we don't want to
just go and spend taxpayers money left over or a lot,
because that's what the Labor government did. We're going to
make sure that we manage it correctly and it's all
(04:56):
about privacy and we need to do it a commercial feel.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Do you reckon it'll be less low than that eleven
million dollars?
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Okay, Now I know that the Correctional officers converged on
Parliament House earlier this week. They're obviously worried, as I've
pointed out, you know, to these changes. They're concerned for
a whole raft of reasons. Why won't you meet with
them and the union.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Look, the Commissioner has tried to meet with the union
to give them an update what's going on. The union
canceled that meeting. There's been some correspondence back and forth
between the union and myself. Ultimately, it's an operational matter
and we know that there's some fact sheet. There's no
information that's been given out to the union. Effectively, they're
the ones that cancel the initial meeting, and we really
(05:41):
want to try and work with them, but it's an
operational thing and we need to make sure that we've
been working on it and hold on me for months now.
The head of the union we all know is the
Mouthpeace Labor. She was working with them previously. I've visited
correctional facilities right across in Northern and I've spoke with
the workforce directly.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I mean, I guess you know whether there's involvement, you know,
whether she's I don't know that she worked for the
previous labor government. She has obviously been with the union
for quite some time. I'm not going to speak on
her behalf, but I guess what she is doing is
obviously doing her job or trying to do a job
in terms of representing those correctional officers that are part
(06:23):
of the union, and they've said that they don't want
to meet with the Commissioner, they want to meet with you.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well, ultimately, the union can ask what they like, but
we're trying to represent the entire workforce. This is about drawing,
letting the Commission draw on a surge workforce from inter
state to be able to deal with the staffing crisis
that's caused over the previous years.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Do you reckon that there are members of that workforce
that are okay with what's happening and that the union
sort of muck raking or what do you think's happening here?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Well, look, ultimately I don't want to speak on behalf,
but I've been to all the prison around in all
the churchy being to the watch houses, and I've talked
to the staff and they're all friendly, they all talk
to me and they're happy doing the job. But what
I want to tell them is no one's going to
lose their job. We're going to allow the Commission to
have more reasons to do their job better. They are
highly skilled workforce. They look after prisoners into prison and
(07:16):
that's what we want to continue and we want to
support them by not having them go out and do
all these prison transports. Like I said, they're highly trained.
Their job is look after the prisoners into the prison
and we want to support them do that.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Minister. One of the other concerns right now is obviously
the fact that the watch houses are being utilized to
house prisoners now. Questions had been raised by the Union
earlier this week. I know that you're also asked about
this during question time by the Independent Justine Davis about
Stringy Bark. Why isn't it being used if it could
(07:50):
house up to one hundred and sixty prisoners. From what we've.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Been told, well, a number of issues. One is a
staffing issue too. It's a cost issue. We've been told
that it could be up around six million dollars to
get that string your Bark operational six million, six million
because ultimately, remember when you start renovating things, you need
to go to the new Australian standards. I know that
there is issue for the fire safety, there's some ventilation upgrade,
(08:16):
Cee City footage upgrades. We needed strength in the door,
strength in the rooms, and remember our community is to
move the prison precinc out to Holts, and what we
don't want to do is spend money in a facility
and then just get rid of it. We know we're
spending money in Burma, we're getting it up and running,
but we are moving out to Holt and it's going
to take some time because the previous government failed to
(08:36):
invest in it and were moving forward.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So you reckon it's not money well spent. I mean
it would though free up all of those watch houses,
wouldn't it if it was operational.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah, But ultimately there are other facility. We know that
there's ninety six speeds coming line in our springs. We
know that we've got the new youth detension facility. We
know that the bearment correctional centers is coming online, so
we need to manage it correctly. We don't want to
just go and spend money all over the place. We
need to make sure that we get the money's right,
we need to get the staffing right. And ultimately this
(09:08):
was about we've got we're short staff and we need
to be able to get this surge in. Just let
the police do Katie. We know that the police brought
up those officers from South Australia. The Police Commission's already
got this power. He can already do this. The Commissioner
for Corrections can't do this, he can't employ people to
help that surge situation. And it's just about being having
a flexible workfloce.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Now, I know you've said that you aren't going to
be meeting with the union. I know that you've said
obviously you know these changes are operational and it's something
that the Commissioner has tried to speak with those union
representatives about. What I can see though from the discussions
that I had with the union yesterday when they spoke
to me on the show, my understanding is that they
are looking to potentially have a vote of no confidence
(09:52):
in Commissioner vari I mean, first off, what do you
make of that?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Well, first off, I can say I've got complete contents
in Commissioner Bali. I've got complete confidence in the executive team.
They are doing a good job under a tremendous amount
of pressure in a very short space of time. Our
laws and our policies in relation to community safety, which
is our number one priority, it is tough. There's been
(10:18):
five hundred more prisoners. They haven't been able to recruit,
and I do say we are still recruiting right now.
I think we've got over thirty recruit officers in training.
It takes eleven week course. So we're not going to
stop recruiting. We're going to continue to recruit curriculal officers.
But we need to make sure we get that balance right.
It's about a surge workforce to support the staff.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
I mean, whose idea was it for all of these changes?
Was it a government idea or was it the commissioner's idea?
I guess you know. What I'm getting to is whether
you should actually meet with the union and with those
representatives if it is something that you and your office
have come up with and that the government's come up
with to communicate that.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Well, look, when I first come into office, I didn't
meet with the union. I've met with them face to face.
I have met with them previously. I have met with
them recently about this matter. But I went to the
commissioner and said, what are your problems? And he said, look,
we need support, and I said, give us all the
options on the table, and we want to support you.
We want to support your executive staff, we want to
support your workforce and that's what we're doing.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Yeah. Look, I will say right from the outset, I
am not a voice for the union. I'm just trying
to articulate what they've obviously said to me on the show.
But I mean the concern here is if you've got
a workforce that are really upset at this point in time,
they're really worried about these changes, I just wonder whether
it would be a positive move for you to actually,
(11:40):
you know, have a chat to them and for them
to hear it from you.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah. Ultimately, remember then you don't represent the entire correction
of workforce. Say, there's two unions in that workforce, and
there's a whole lot of other probation officers. I think
there's some like forteen hundred or thirty one hundred staff
incrections overall in the union represent I think just under
half of them. So even though they talking that they
represent the prison off as they do, but there's corrections
is a big, big unit of lots of people, and
(12:06):
we know that there's short staff, we know that services
is being cut, and we want to break the cycle
of reoffending. We need to make sure we've got staff
there for reabilitation. We need to get out in the
community in mow lawns and doing it by the road.
We haven't been able to do because we're short.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Stuff, and I want to get to that because this
is something that a lot of our listeners are really
concerned with. In fact, we've got a heap of messages
this morning. But I spoke to Catherine earlier in the
week now, her ninety nine year old nan she's unable
to have her lawns mode by those low security prisoners anymore.
Because obviously I'm assuming these shortages. Well, I mean it's
(12:42):
really the large number of prisoners that we've got means
that all of those correctional stuff now are back behind
the wire. Is that the reason why you know this
lawn mowing that was happening and this maintenance that was
happening with the low security prisoners isn't happening.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
That's correct, Okay, there's being the staff and those starts
are forced to come behind the wire because we are
transporting prisoners around. We're having prison officers sit doing watchers
at the health system, and we've had prison officers sitting
at the courts. We know that, for example, the Supreme
Court have got private security. They run it. But we
want to make sure that those prison officers get back
(13:18):
into the prisons and do their jobs, that we can
offer those services. Remember, it's not only about mowing their lawns,
which is great. It is about giving some of these
reads an opportunity to get out there and rehab and
redegrade in society and so that when they get out
of prison they've got some skills.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Well, I'm just going to read some of these messages
out too that we have received. So Judea been in
contact with us. She said, My elderly disabled mother has
had the Correctional Services mow her lawn for several years,
as she's eighty four and no longer able to do
it herself. She needs to have a lawn mode to
get from the house to the car to get to
the specialist's appointments. It's near impossible to use a walker
(13:55):
through the lawn grass. She's now going to have to
pay at least one hundred dollars a month for this
serves for a pensioner, that's a lot of money. That's
twenty five dollars a week of her food money that
the Northern Territory government's now taking from her. Now Jude says,
thank you very much Northern Territory government for helping the
decline of quality of life by taking away the service.
(14:15):
I'm very frustrated and really disappointed, Minister. What is there
something we can do here to try and continue to
help these senior territorians that clearly need it.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Ultimately, we're going to try and pass the legislation today.
It's on urgency because we know that there's a staff shortage.
We will be able to start a surge in the
next week or so. So look, we expect to bring
these programs back online in the very near future. So
that's one of the reasons why we're doing it on urgency,
because we've heard the community, We've heard the workforce, I've
(14:50):
heard the conditioner and his executive and something needs to
be done. Katie. This is a year of action. We're
making some tough decisions, how and I fully accept that
some people aren't going to like them. But in the
long run, we want to make sure that the prison
system run smoothly, that the Commissioner has got all the
resources available to make sure that the services that we
are speaking about are up and running and can be
done and expanded as well. We want to make sure
(15:13):
that it's about the rehabilitation, and we want to make
sure that the prison officers work their work a normal
week and go home and spend time with their families.
We need that week.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So obviously that legislation, you're hoping that it's going to
pass this week. I mean, the reality of it is,
so even if that legislation passes this week, do you
then anticipate that we would have a surge workforce from
interstate coming within the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
We look ultimately, I think we need about the Commissioner
saying today we need probably fifty or sixty officers. We're
not going to get them in a couple of weeks,
but we're anticipating some more officers coming in the next
two or three weeks. We've get to get up and
running because we need to get the staffing numbers sorted out.
We can't have this surge in numbers without having an
increased workforce, and we want to bring these services back
(15:58):
in line. The only way to do that is to
get more stuff. Like we're recruiting right now. There's over
thirty officers in the recruit training, but we just can't
keep up and we need to search, just like the
police do with the South Australian Police.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So Minister, what's the message to those pensioners a lot?
You know, like some of these seniors listen to the
show every day that are now without that service, their
children listen to the show. What is your message to
them about, you know, about what some might see as
quite a small thing, you know, their lawns being mode.
But when is it going to get back up and running.
(16:31):
When are those seniors going to be able to be
helped again and those low security prisoners able to get
back out and you know, give back to the community.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Well, look what I can say to them, Katie is look,
we've heard what you say, we understand your situation, and
we're going to get that done as soon as we can.
And what I will do is direct the Commissioner to
that'll be the first service brought back on line. So
as soon as we get our surge forced back in
and we get running, the first thing that will come
back in line is getting those lawns mode and getting
the rebilitation done. So what I can say is that
(17:00):
will be the first service brought back online and we'll
do as soon as we possibly.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Can I know you're absolutely under the pump, and I
am going to let you go. But just one final question.
If that service isn't happening, and if that program isn't happening,
how many of the others aren't I'm assuming that all
of the of the usual rehab programs aren't really able
to happen at this point.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Well, what's been cut is the industry training and all
the you know, the workforceing that like all the education programs.
I went to the youth Detention center. They've still got
the education programs running. But what is is the services
that run, like the law knowing, the behavioral change programs,
the educational programs, and there's more lockdowns. Look, and I'm
(17:43):
fully acknowledged it's not ideal, but this is why we're
doing what we're doing on urgency. We've got a staff shortage.
These services have been cut because we don't have enough staff.
We've recognized it and like, this is a year of action.
Some people aren't going to like the decisions, but that's
what we're going to do because we need to make
sure that the correction systems that a 've been running
to keep our community safe and offer those services to
(18:04):
those ninety nine year old people who deserve to get
the lawn mode.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Absolutely. Yeah, look I think the sooner the better that
we can get to, you know, get those corrections. Well
the prisoners, I should say, back out there and helping
those Northern Territory seniors. Jered Mayley, Minister ful corrections. We'll
leave it there, thanks so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Thank you, Katie, thank you,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!