Media Releases

Union rejects ERA's proposed overhaul of Department of Corrective Services

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has rejected a recommendation by the Economic Regulation Authority that would result in an expensive bureaucratic overhaul of the Department of Corrective Services.The proposal is contained in a draft report released today ...

Union calls for total ban on smoking on prison grounds

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has called on the Corrective Services Minister to reconsider his refusal to impose a total smoking ban on prison grounds.The Minister Joe Francis recently told a Budget Estimates hearing that banning smoking was “a bridge ...

Government pushing ahead with privatisation agenda

The WA Prison Officers’ Union said the State Government was pushing ahead with its privatisation agenda for the state’s prison system, with the revelation that services at the new women’s facility could be privatised.The government has confirmed tha ...

Union calls for prisoner transport services to be brought back in house

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has criticised the State Government’s decision to put WA’s prisoner transport contract out to competitive tender.The government has decided not to extend the contract currently held by Serco, which is due to expire on J ...

Union concerned over reports new prison may be privatised

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has accused the State Government of pursuing a privatisation agenda in relation to the state’s prison system.The Corrective Services Minister has revealed he is considering building and operating a new prison in WA throug ...

WAPOU backs plan for new prison for WA to alleviate overcrowding

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has backed a suggestion from the state’s Corrective Services Commissioner that WA could need a new prison within the next three years.The Commissioner made the comments at a budget estimates hearing today, after he told t ...

Funding needed in budget to expand overcrowded prison system

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has called on the State Government to allocate money in the upcoming budget to expand WA’s chronically overcrowded prison system.The number of prisoners exceeded 5,500 for the first time last month, putting immense pressu ...

Questions raised about government spending on work camps

The WA Prison Officers’ Union said a new report raised serious questions about whether the State Government had misspent taxpayers’ money building work camps instead of alleviating prison overcrowding.The report, by the Office of the Inspector of Cust ...

Prison numbers hit new record high

WA’s prison system is bursting at the seams, with new figures revealing prisoner numbers have hit another record high.The prison muster has reached over 5,500 prisoners for the first time, while the system is only designed to hold around 4,500 prisoners ...

ABS figures suggest WA prison overcrowding set to get worse

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has warned the overcrowding in WA’s prisons is going to get worse, after the Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures which show WA has the second highest imprisonment rate in the country.The ABS figures for the D ...

ERA report highlights urgent need for action at Bandyup

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has called for the State Government to take immediate action to alleviate chronic overcrowding at Bandyup women’s prison, after the Economic Regulation Authority labeled the prison a ‘disgrace’.The ERA released a disc ...

Private sector not the answer for WA's prison system

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has strongly rejected a discussion paper released by the Economic Regulation Authority, which is part of a State Government push towards privatisation of prisons.The ERA is conducting an inquiry into improving the efficienc ...

Warning as Bandyup Women’s Prison sets yet another record

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has warned that tensions at Bandyup women’s prison are continuing to escalate, as prisoner numbers hit yet another new high.The prison muster at Bandyup hit 340 this week; well above the prison’s capacity of 259.WAPOU S ...

Government needs to learn lessons from Queensland and stop privatising prisons

The WA Prison Officers’ Union has warned the State Government against pursuing its privatisation agenda for the WA prison system.The warning comes on the back of Campbell Newman’s crushing election loss in Queensland, where privatisation was a key iss ...

Assault of prison officers highlights overcrowding in prisons

The WA Prison Officers’ Union says the assault of four prison officers yesterday at Hakea Prison highlights the increasing danger of overcrowded prisons.A prisoner attacked four officers at Hakea Prison on Saturday.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said all of ...