Media Releases
Overcrowding forces prisoners to sleep on the floor at Hakea prison
Overcrowding at Hakea prison in Canning Vale has passed crisis point, with prisoners being forced to sleep on the floor.
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has been told that over the weekend, 15 prisoners were forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor ...
Damning report card released on new women's prison
The first report card on the management of the state’s new women’s prison has revealed a litany of serious failings which staff believed were putting them in danger.
The Melaleuca facility at Hakea prison opened in December, and is run by inte ...
Concern as WA’s prison population reaches record high
WA prisoner numbers continue to spiral out of control, with revelations the prison muster has exceeded 6,500 for the first time.
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said overcrowding was getting worse, as the prisoner population continued to increase at a ...
Report confirms WA still has highest Aboriginal incarceration rate in Australia
The Productivity Commission’s latest annual report confirms WA is still locking up Aboriginal people at a faster rate than any other state or territory.
The latest federal Report on Government Services report shows WA has an Aboriginal incarceration ...
Report finds cost cutting has negative impact on Greenough Regional Prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has accused the State Government of underfunding Greenough Regional Prison, after an independent report found the prison had been badly affected by cost cuts.
The report by the Inspector of Custodial Services found that ...
Government tries to cover up true extent of prison overcrowding
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has accused the State Government of trying to cover up the true extent of WA’s prison overcrowding, after a new report revealed the system is operating at 148% of its intended capacity.
The report by the Office of ...
WAPOU to take Sodexo to Fair Work for ripping off prison officers
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has accused private contractor Sodexo of ripping off its staff at the new women’s prison before it’s even commenced operations.
Sodexo is a multinational company selected by the State Government to manage th ...
Union warning over regional staff rent increases
The Prison Officers’ Union is warning of a potential prison staff shortage as a result of the State Government increasing rents in staff housing in regional areas.
The government has increased rents by up to 15 percent, or $60 a fortnight in some ar ...
WA should follow U.S. lead and dump private prisons
The WA Prison Officers Union has called on the State Government to follow the lead of the US Justice Department, which is phasing out the use of privately run prisons.
The Justice Department has announced its contracts with 13 private prisons will be allo ...
Union sceptical about new incentive model for women's prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is highly sceptical about the government’s new incentive model for the private operator of WA’s new women’s prison.
The government has announced Sodexo will be awarded incentive payments if it prevents ...
Union warns Bandyup overcrowding a threat to safety
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is warning that the situation at WA’s main women’s prison is becoming increasingly volatile, as overcrowding hits record levels.The prison population at Bandyup hit a record 402 prisoners this week, in a prison designed ...
Female prisoners forced to sleep on the floor at Bandyup Prison
The overcrowding at WA’s women’s prison has become so severe, female prisoners have been forced to sleep on the floor.This week, the prison population hit a record 402 prisoners, in a prison designed to hold only around 250 prisoners.WA Prison Officer ...
Problems at Hakea Prison foreseeable and avoidable
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said a damning report on Hakea prison by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services has highlighted a number of foreseeable and preventable issues.The report into WA’s remand prison has found that prisoners, most o ...
Prison Officers’ Union disappointed over government decision
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said it was very disappointed the State Government had named a private provider as the preferred operator for WA’s new Women’s Remand and Reintegration Facility at Hakea prison.The government has announced it’s enteri ...
Government denials on staff shortage cost the public $700,000
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has welcomed the Corrective Services Commissioner’s commitment to employing more staff in WA’s overcrowded prison system.Commissioner James McMahon confirmed in budget estimates hearings yesterday that many of the state ...