Melaleuca Women’s Prison

Amid all the recent COVID-19 related news, it might have been easy to overlook a massive win for WAPOU.

On Saturday 6 April, after three and half years, the failed experiment of a French catering company running a Western Australian maximum-security women’s prison has come to an end.

WAPOU and other stakeholders were publicly critical of the previous government’s decision to privatise Melaleuca from the outset.

The subsequent decision to hand the contract to a French catering company with a woeful track record in corrections was also criticised by WAPOU.

Amid contract compliance issues, critical reports form OICs and documented financial issues, it came as no surprise to WAPOU that Sodexo ultimately opted to seek an early exit from the contract.

WAPOU welcomes Melaleuca back into the public sector and applauds the State Government for ending the failed privatisation experiment, at Melaleuca at least.

WAPOU also congratulates those WAPOU members who transitioned along with the facility.

It is worth noting that, as a parting gift to their former employees, Sodexo have defied the outcome of a dispute that was taken to the Fair Work Commission and underpaid all Prison Officers in their termination pay.

WAPOU will continue to pursue that matter on behalf of our members, but it serves as a timely reminder as to why the privatisation of prisons leads to corporate greed and poorer outcomes for workers and prisoners alike.