Media Releases
Bitter sweet prison result in the Northwest
The opening of a new prison facility in Derby is being welcomed, but it doesn’t go far enough to help the serious problem of overcrowding in WA prisons.The gross overcrowding of WA prisons has led to the launch of the Respect the Risk campaign throughou ...
Prison Officers Ask Regional WA to ‘Respect the Risk’
The WA Prison Officers’ Union are in Albany today for the regional WA launch of the new Respect the Risk advertising campaign – a campaign that seeks to highlight the concerns of Prison Officers working at Albany Regional Prison and at other jails rig ...
Prison Officers Turn Their Backs on State Parliament After Minister Cowper Refuses to Support Them
Dozens of Western Australian prison officers have turned their backs on State Parliament and walked out of the Legislative Assembly’s Question Time this afternoon after Minister for Corrective Services, Murray Cowper, refused to answer parliamentary que ...
WA Prison Officers’ Union Launch Major Respect the Risk Advertising Campaign
The Western Australian Prison Officers’ Union has launched a major advertising campaign to raise the concerns of Prison Officers working in the state’s prison system.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said the “Respect the Risk “ campaign was about gettin ...
Independent report confirms ‘serious challenges’ and overcrowding at Albany Regional Prison
The release of a new report by Western Australia’s Inspector of Custodial Services, Neil Morgan, into Albany Regional Prison has confirmed what the WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has been saying for months – that Albany Prison is facing serious c ...
Fill Empty Beds at Regional Prisons Before Expanding Acacia
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has called on the Barnett Government to prioritise the opening of empty prison beds at Hakea, Bunbury and Albany Regional Prisons before spending money on the expansion of the privately run Acacia Prison.WAPOU Secretary Joh ...
Barnett Government still in denial over WA Prison overcrowding
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has criticised the Minister for Corrective Services, Terry Redman, for again failing to admit that WA’s Prisons are massively overcrowded.Under questioning today in State Parliament’s Legislative Assembly Estimates Comm ...
Overcrowding reaching breaking point at roebourne prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to act immediately to address the chronic overcrowding at Roebourne Regional Prison.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said new facilities were urgently needed at Roebourne Prison, a fac ...
New Eastern Goldfields Prison now in jeopardy thanks to new budget cuts
The future of the planned new Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison is now in jeopardy as a result of the Barnett Government’s announcement this week of funding cuts to the Department of Corrective Services.“The prison system faces funding cuts of 2% thi ...
WA community at risk from new government cuts to prisons
The Barnett Government’s announcement yesterday of a 2% funding cut to the Department of Corrective Services this year and further cuts of 3% over coming years puts the Western Australian community further at risk says WA Prison Officers’ Union Secret ...
WAPOU challenges government to come clean about the details of the contract with Serco
WAPOU Secretary John Welch called for the government to release the details of its contract with Serco for the provision of privatised Prison services at Rangeview facility.He said that recent revelations that Serco intended to fulfil its contract to prov ...
Prison Officers to highlight dangerous levels of overcrowding at Bunbury Regional Prison
WA Prison Officers Union officials will tomorrow (March 15th) visit the Bunbury Regional Prison to investigate staffing levels and potentially dangerous conditions at the prison.WAPOUÂ Secretary John Welch said the independent Inspector of Custodial Serv ...
$65 million spent yet so far only 6 new beds for Albany Prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has condemned the Barnett Government for failing to keep all existing beds in operation at Albany Regional Prison when a new prison unit opens this month.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said it was ludicrous that at the ...
Broome Regional Prison's Future in Jeopardy
WA Prison Officers’ Union Secretary John Welch today called on the Barnett Government to come clean on their plans for the future of Broome Regional Prison.With rumours of the prison’s demise circulating throughout the Broome community Mr Welch said i ...
Prison Inspector says Bunbury Prison staff at risk while facility bursts at the seams.
The WA Prison Officers’ Union (WAPOU) has called on the Barnett Government to fix the serious concerns raised by the Inspector of Custodial Services in his report into Bunbury Regional Prison released today.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said the Inspectorâ ...