1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,440
Speaker 1: We know the changes to the Correctional Services Legislative Amendment

2
00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,040
Speaker 1: Bill of twenty five past in Parliament last week, the

3
00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:11,119
Speaker 1: Government saying it's delivering what they've described as critical workforce

4
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:15,840
Speaker 1: reforms to support correction staff and ease workforce pressures. Now

5
00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,040
Speaker 1: the Commissioner of Corrections now has the authority to appoint

6
00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:24,800
Speaker 1: special officers, enabling the engagement of experienced interstate correctional officers

7
00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:30,720
Speaker 1: and qualified external correctional service providers. The Corrections Commissioner, Matthew

8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,320
Speaker 1: Valley joins me in the studio. Good morning to you.

9
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,519
Speaker 2: Good morning again, Katie, Commissioner.

10
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,519
Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time. Now, these legislative changes

11
00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,760
Speaker 1: obviously mean that you've got the ability to appoint special officers,

12
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:46,400
Speaker 1: enabling the engagement of experienced inter state correctional offices and

13
00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:51,560
Speaker 1: qualified external correctional service providers. What are your plans now

14
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,840
Speaker 1: when it comes to surging the workforce?

15
00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,000
Speaker 3: Yeah, Katie, So those powers passed through Parliament late last week,

16
00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,840
Speaker 3: and similar powers exist in others dates and of course

17
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,720
Speaker 3: you saw earlier this year police do a similar thing

18
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:05,880
Speaker 3: down in ol Of Springs with South Australia Police. So

19
00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:11,160
Speaker 3: it gives me greater flexibility to engage qualified and trained

20
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,280
Speaker 3: specialist officers for me to state or private contractors. And

21
00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,280
Speaker 3: I know there's been some debate about what exactly that means,

22
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,680
Speaker 3: and I'm happy to talk about that. But what it

23
00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,240
Speaker 3: means is ultimately we can go out to the rest

24
00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,679
Speaker 3: of the country and ask for help, and that's exactly

25
00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,800
Speaker 3: what we're doing right now. I've been in contact with

26
00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,440
Speaker 3: some of my interstate counterparts over the weekend to see

27
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,480
Speaker 3: what capacity they may have, and we'll be able to

28
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,520
Speaker 3: work through that in the days ahead. But of course

29
00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,480
Speaker 3: we're also approaching a number of those specialists into state providers,

30
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,839
Speaker 3: the commercial contractors that have this experience in a state.

31
00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,280
Speaker 1: So who have you been in contact with into state?

32
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:53,320
Speaker 1: Which different correctional service commissioners and how many officers are

33
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,400
Speaker 1: you hoping to bring in.

34
00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,200
Speaker 3: Well, the answer to that question is all of them.

35
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,160
Speaker 3: So I have a communication group with all of our

36
00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,080
Speaker 3: interstate corrections commissioners and we trade notes on a lot

37
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:04,520
Speaker 3: of stuff.

38
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,960
Speaker 2: So I've been speaking with them over the weekend.

39
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,119
Speaker 3: Obviously, I don't want to prejudice those negotiations and discussions,

40
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,200
Speaker 3: and of course I make the point that you know, every.

41
00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,080
Speaker 2: Jurisdiction has its own pressures as well.

42
00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,200
Speaker 3: So we have a pretty good relationship with our interstate colleagues,

43
00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,440
Speaker 3: and I'm sure if they can help us reasonably, they will.

44
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,280
Speaker 3: But what the difference is here, Katie, with this new

45
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,320
Speaker 3: law is I could borrow, you know, one, five, ten, fifteen,

46
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,120
Speaker 3: twenty officers from another jurisdiction and appoint them subject to

47
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:36,040
Speaker 3: them being loaned.

48
00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,000
Speaker 2: And that's quite different.

49
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,600
Speaker 3: Previous to these powers, I would have had to have

50
00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,079
Speaker 3: those offices be employed by the Northern Territory, which meant

51
00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,200
Speaker 3: that their home jurisdiction would have had to put them

52
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,280
Speaker 3: on leave without pay or resign their position to come

53
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:49,440
Speaker 3: and take up a temp contract.

54
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,280
Speaker 2: So this makes it a whole lot easier.

55
00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,040
Speaker 3: So right now I'm in those kind of discussions with

56
00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,119
Speaker 3: my colleagues, and then of course we're out to market

57
00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:04,280
Speaker 3: with some direct approaches to a series of those commercial providers.

58
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:11,079
Speaker 3: Obviously there's a procurement process we're following, and we've identified

59
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,240
Speaker 3: a series of those specialist contractors who have those expertise

60
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:15,800
Speaker 3: and those capabilities elsewhere.

61
00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:20,440
Speaker 1: All right, first off, any idea how many officers you

62
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,480
Speaker 1: may be able to get from into state or what

63
00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,720
Speaker 1: are you in an ideal world? How many would you.

64
00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,040
Speaker 3: Bring in right now, I'd take as many as I

65
00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,600
Speaker 3: could get, Katie, to be honest with us, hundred and fifty. Well,

66
00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,720
Speaker 3: I said the other week, I want to recruit another

67
00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,040
Speaker 3: one hundred correctional officers this year, and we're opening Berramer

68
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,400
Speaker 3: Correctional Center, and you know I have one hundred and

69
00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,920
Speaker 3: sixty four prisoners in there now, We're backed up in watchhouses,

70
00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,360
Speaker 3: and of course we have new modular blocks coming online

71
00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,320
Speaker 3: in our springs now. I've also been quite clear that

72
00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,240
Speaker 3: it's not my intention to put those private contract specialist

73
00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,960
Speaker 3: firms inside the wire. So if I could borrow supplementary

74
00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:02,360
Speaker 3: officers from another jurisdiction, another state jurisdiction, that might be

75
00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,080
Speaker 3: a surge capacity into our prisons whilst we would continue

76
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,640
Speaker 3: to recruit. But again the numbers would depend on negotiations.

77
00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,760
Speaker 1: Yeah, right, And so how quickly are you hoping that

78
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,240
Speaker 1: you're going to be able to do that?

79
00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,919
Speaker 3: Well, as quickly as possible, And I know that sounds

80
00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,880
Speaker 3: a bit vague, but again it's subject to two things.

81
00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:27,000
Speaker 3: One is another state being able to work through their

82
00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,719
Speaker 3: machinations to support us if we're successful in those negotiations.

83
00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,360
Speaker 3: And the second part is the commercial procurement process for

84
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,360
Speaker 3: those escort providers. We hope to have the first round

85
00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,960
Speaker 3: of proposals from those commercial providers to us this week,

86
00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,320
Speaker 3: so we've moved very fast on that, and then we'll

87
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:48,880
Speaker 3: go into a very rapid I guess panel assessment process

88
00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,120
Speaker 3: of those tenders, and if we are able to select

89
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,800
Speaker 3: a suitable provider or providers, then we would enter into

90
00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:01,520
Speaker 3: a rapid commercial contract process. Now again, my legal friends

91
00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,240
Speaker 3: and we've got some commercial lawyers and other things involved

92
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,760
Speaker 3: tell us that that will take a week or two.

93
00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,920
Speaker 3: So I expect I'd be able to have a contract

94
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,800
Speaker 3: in place in a few weeks time, and those deployments

95
00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:15,479
Speaker 3: from a commercial provider could flow.

96
00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,680
Speaker 1: Next month, so as early as March. Absolutely, absolutely, it

97
00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,000
Speaker 1: does sound as though things are all going to move

98
00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,440
Speaker 1: pretty quickly. I mean, how how quickly do you need

99
00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,679
Speaker 1: them to move? In terms of the number of prisoners

100
00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,880
Speaker 1: you've got at the moment, we know those numbers continue

101
00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:30,440
Speaker 1: to rise.

102
00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,479
Speaker 3: Yeah, they rise every day, Katie, And to be honest

103
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,040
Speaker 3: with you, that's all we're doing at the moment is

104
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,320
Speaker 3: managing that operational capacity. My team and I have been

105
00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,719
Speaker 3: working on that all weekend. We are making sure that

106
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,520
Speaker 3: every single movement across our system, and you can imagine

107
00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,320
Speaker 3: there's a lot when you move twenty seven hundred people around.

108
00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,440
Speaker 3: Every time there's a discharge from the main prison, we'll

109
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,960
Speaker 3: take a new prisoner in. We're moving people out to

110
00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,520
Speaker 3: our work camps as people are ending their sentences. But

111
00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,680
Speaker 3: this morning, you know, there's twenty seven hundred and seventeen

112
00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,800
Speaker 3: in our cust city, and I know that there's others

113
00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,039
Speaker 3: backed up in watchhouses.

114
00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:04,799
Speaker 2: And just to give you an example.

115
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,720
Speaker 3: Katie, because of those pressures, you know, I reopened our

116
00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,800
Speaker 3: operational footprint at Peter McCaulay Center on the weekend. Had

117
00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,839
Speaker 3: to do it because we were out of beds on Friday.

118
00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,839
Speaker 1: Okay, so how many how many prisoners have you got

119
00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:18,400
Speaker 1: in the Peter McCauley Center.

120
00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,160
Speaker 3: At the moment, It was about a dozen there this morning,

121
00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,960
Speaker 3: and they were short notice placements on Friday evening. My

122
00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:29,080
Speaker 3: team worked remarkably well to make that happen. But of course,

123
00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,080
Speaker 3: what that does, Katie, is that just another site that

124
00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,719
Speaker 3: we're now staffing, and it's not a long term solution

125
00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:35,159
Speaker 3: for us.

126
00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,720
Speaker 1: So in terms of you know, we've spoken a lot

127
00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,960
Speaker 1: about those prisoner numbers. I know earlier in the year,

128
00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,640
Speaker 1: it was an additional four hundred prisoners, is what we've seen.

129
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,760
Speaker 1: How many are we up now, is it like more

130
00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:45,680
Speaker 1: like five hundred?

131
00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,360
Speaker 3: I guess it, Yeah, absolutely, I guess it depends on

132
00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,000
Speaker 3: where you draw the line. But I think we're about

133
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,400
Speaker 3: twenty two hundred when the government came to power back

134
00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:59,080
Speaker 3: in August September, and certainly, as I said, when.

135
00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,719
Speaker 2: I wrote the master plan, and you know, we.

136
00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,600
Speaker 3: Were projecting a three thousand bed capacity, so we're more

137
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,720
Speaker 3: than fifty percent towards that gap now and that's why

138
00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,440
Speaker 3: we're moving so fast and accelerating, and the government has

139
00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:16,440
Speaker 3: asked me to accelerate those works. And even this week, Katie,

140
00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,360
Speaker 3: we're putting the finishing touches on some demoundable buildings that

141
00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,040
Speaker 3: we've installed into Beerrima and we've craned them.

142
00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:23,560
Speaker 2: Over the fence.

143
00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:29,360
Speaker 3: They're a low security dormitory style accommodation and we're installing

144
00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,360
Speaker 3: some shower blocks and ablutions there and that'll give us

145
00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,640
Speaker 3: an extra hundred or so capacity. Fences and fire and

146
00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,520
Speaker 3: other electrical security systems to be installed this week, and

147
00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,680
Speaker 3: then I anticipate having the ninety six bed modular facility

148
00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:45,880
Speaker 3: operational next week.

149
00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,800
Speaker 1: All right, now, all of this is needed, There's no

150
00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,760
Speaker 1: other way to put it. I mean, those prisoner numbers

151
00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,800
Speaker 1: continue to grow. You are trying to juggle all of

152
00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,240
Speaker 1: those prisoners. In the meantime. I mean we've still got

153
00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,720
Speaker 1: correction stuff saying they're not had about these changes. Have

154
00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:06,360
Speaker 1: you had any ability to communicate further to them through

155
00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,560
Speaker 1: the union or not through the union? Well?

156
00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:10,360
Speaker 2: Absolutely.

157
00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,480
Speaker 3: The first thing I'd say is we've been keeping our

158
00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:17,520
Speaker 3: staff informed and I've had senior leaders out and myself

159
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,240
Speaker 3: out and around the workplaces over the last you know,

160
00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:24,640
Speaker 3: late last week and the weekend. We're answering questions as

161
00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,400
Speaker 3: we walk and talk. We also have been doing our

162
00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,000
Speaker 3: all staff messaging and we've got some internal communications going

163
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,600
Speaker 3: in relation to that. And the next stage of that process, Katie,

164
00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,560
Speaker 3: is for implementation phase of these changes. We're going to

165
00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,719
Speaker 3: be establishing a strategic working group including union representatives. So

166
00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,360
Speaker 3: I'll be writing to unions and I've flagged that last

167
00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,360
Speaker 3: week to invite them to participate. But at the moment,

168
00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,319
Speaker 3: things are tough, and you know, we are still working

169
00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,080
Speaker 3: through some of those union concerns. The vote of no

170
00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,199
Speaker 3: confidence obviously is still out and about.

171
00:08:58,559 --> 00:08:59,760
Speaker 1: How do you feel about that?

172
00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,120
Speaker 2: Well, I guess that's their choice.

173
00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:04,959
Speaker 3: What I can say to my staff is, and I've

174
00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,440
Speaker 3: always said this, is, you know, I'm really proud of

175
00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,960
Speaker 3: what we have continued to deliver for Corrections and Territorians.

176
00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,560
Speaker 2: For weeks and months now. It's not easy, Katie.

177
00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,800
Speaker 3: You know, people are working around the clock, they're working

178
00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,000
Speaker 3: over time, they're stretched, they're tired, and we all are.

179
00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,440
Speaker 3: But we also understand what the community expects of us,

180
00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,800
Speaker 3: and that is to deliver. So I guess I have

181
00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,400
Speaker 3: to focus on that and remind people that, you know,

182
00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,600
Speaker 3: we do this job for a reason and I'm trying

183
00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,040
Speaker 3: to do the best with what we have. What I'm

184
00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,080
Speaker 3: asking my people to do is stick with us and

185
00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:37,200
Speaker 3: focus on that vision.

186
00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,480
Speaker 1: I mean, when you look at what you're trying to do,

187
00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,760
Speaker 1: when you look at the things that you're trying to juggle,

188
00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,640
Speaker 1: when you look at the way you're trying to support

189
00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,360
Speaker 1: your staff and then stuff some stuff. Not happy about that,

190
00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,920
Speaker 1: and then you've got the union coming out saying you

191
00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,800
Speaker 1: know that they want to vote of no confidence in you.

192
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,760
Speaker 1: Is that like, is that frustrating and upsetting or do

193
00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,920
Speaker 1: you just keep forging ahead? And keep on are well, I'd.

194
00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,480
Speaker 3: Be lying to you if I said that it didn't,

195
00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,840
Speaker 3: you know, frustrate me and upset me.

196
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:07,320
Speaker 2: Of course, you know.

197
00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,640
Speaker 3: I lead my people as best I can with the

198
00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,360
Speaker 3: energy and passion that I try and get.

199
00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,240
Speaker 2: Up with every day. But at the end of the day,

200
00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:16,440
Speaker 2: I expect.

201
00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,840
Speaker 3: You know, there'll always be those in unions and the

202
00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,400
Speaker 3: workplace that disagree with some of my decisions.

203
00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:22,000
Speaker 2: I respect that.

204
00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,960
Speaker 3: I respect their right to protest about that. What I

205
00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,200
Speaker 3: have to remain focused on is whether I think in

206
00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,760
Speaker 3: my gut that I'm making the right decisions. And when

207
00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,400
Speaker 3: I think that, I think, well, I have to focus

208
00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,680
Speaker 3: on my instincts and my values and get us through

209
00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,480
Speaker 3: this problem so that we can stabilize the correction system

210
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,000
Speaker 3: and bring you know that focus on not only community safety, Katie,

211
00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:43,760
Speaker 3: but rehabilitation.

212
00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,079
Speaker 1: Well, that's one of the other things I do want

213
00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,760
Speaker 1: to ask you about, Commissioner. Last week, we had a

214
00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,280
Speaker 1: number of Territorians get in contact with us about the

215
00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,800
Speaker 1: low security prisoners that would usually mow lawns for senior

216
00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,240
Speaker 1: Territorians and help some of our senior territorians no longer

217
00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,520
Speaker 1: able to do that because you have got all your

218
00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,640
Speaker 1: staff back behind the wire. How quickly do you think

219
00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:05,960
Speaker 1: you're going to be able to get some of those

220
00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,240
Speaker 1: programs back up and running for those seniors it really

221
00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,920
Speaker 1: appreciate and rely on it. Well.

222
00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,520
Speaker 3: The community service work parties, Katie. And we've got the

223
00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:16,680
Speaker 3: Mindaw and Analys springs. We also have them in the

224
00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,800
Speaker 3: work camps, and the work camps in Tenant and Datchelor

225
00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,640
Speaker 3: have been less affected, but here in Darwen and Analys

226
00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,280
Speaker 3: we've had to suspend those work parties. And you know

227
00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,160
Speaker 3: they do service so many pension as, They service community

228
00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,120
Speaker 3: groups and local councils. In Alice, they manage some of

229
00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,040
Speaker 3: the grounds keeping around the river.

230
00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:33,520
Speaker 2: And so forth.

231
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,200
Speaker 3: I hope to get those back up and running as

232
00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,959
Speaker 3: best I can, as quickly as I can. But also

233
00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:44,199
Speaker 3: to Katie, there's our industries, facilities, our workshops, our employment

234
00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:49,079
Speaker 3: and also our rehabilitation clinical treatment programs. And on Friday

235
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,480
Speaker 3: I spoke with a bunch of our clinicians who deliver

236
00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,959
Speaker 3: and these are psychologists and case workers who deliver treatment

237
00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,400
Speaker 3: programs for fenders in custody. Now, Katie, I think the

238
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,560
Speaker 3: data shows me from one July through to now, we're

239
00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,400
Speaker 3: fifty percent down on the targeted rate of programs we'd

240
00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:11,080
Speaker 3: like to be able to deliver. Now, these are DV programs,

241
00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,560
Speaker 3: treatment programs for offenders that we should be delivering and

242
00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,120
Speaker 3: we can't because we're in lockdown.

243
00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,560
Speaker 1: Well that's pretty shocking in the sense that people do

244
00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,880
Speaker 1: expect when prisoners go into prison that they are going

245
00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,200
Speaker 1: to be doing some of those different programs, different rehabilitations

246
00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,599
Speaker 1: so that they come out better humans, not better criminals.

247
00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,640
Speaker 3: Absolutely, and that's part of our mission, and that's why

248
00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,560
Speaker 3: we employ the clinical specialists and the case workers and

249
00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,800
Speaker 3: the education professionals that we do. That's why we have

250
00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,760
Speaker 3: a partnership with Charles Darwen University and I met with

251
00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,800
Speaker 3: the vice chancellor on Friday about how we can expand that.

252
00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,080
Speaker 2: But all of it, Katie relies.

253
00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,840
Speaker 3: On a stable, well staffed, operational prison system that is unlocked.

254
00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,200
Speaker 3: And this weekend it hasn't been. It hasn't been unlocked.

255
00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,720
Speaker 3: You know. Saturday was one of our toughest days I

256
00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,560
Speaker 3: think in a long time, was entirely lockdown due to

257
00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,160
Speaker 3: short staffing, and we canceled family visits.

258
00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,360
Speaker 2: That's where we're at and I want to I don't

259
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:08,679
Speaker 2: want to sugarcoat that for people.

260
00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,200
Speaker 3: And I don't mean to cause alarm and stress for

261
00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,360
Speaker 3: our staff, but the staff that are there working hard.

262
00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,880
Speaker 3: We have to then revert to focusing on medical meals

263
00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:22,320
Speaker 3: and basic human hygiene and those kind of things. And

264
00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,480
Speaker 3: these are some of the other impacts. You know, family visits,

265
00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,000
Speaker 3: if you can't see if you know a kid outside

266
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,960
Speaker 3: wants to see Dad and can't, that has an impact

267
00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,800
Speaker 3: not just on the prisoner Katie and our operations and sentiment,

268
00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:35,760
Speaker 3: but the wider community as well.

269
00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,080
Speaker 1: I mean, that's pretty concerning that you're in a situation

270
00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,440
Speaker 1: on Saturday where so the whole prison had.

271
00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:41,880
Speaker 2: To be locked down pretty much.

272
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,160
Speaker 1: Yep, Like, is that the first time you've had to

273
00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:44,400
Speaker 1: do that.

274
00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,040
Speaker 3: No, it's not, but we don't. I mean, it's highly unusual.

275
00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,840
Speaker 3: I'll preface that by saying it's highly undesirable to lock

276
00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,080
Speaker 3: down an entire prison all day. We usually function on

277
00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:01,360
Speaker 3: rolling unlocks, which means we'll stage lockdowns and unlocks throughout

278
00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,920
Speaker 3: the day across different blocks and sectors in an effort

279
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,160
Speaker 3: to get prisoners out to do some stuff.

280
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:08,720
Speaker 2: But Saturday was really tough.

281
00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,599
Speaker 3: We were I think, if I'm right, I'm going to

282
00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,760
Speaker 3: say about forty five staff short.

283
00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,400
Speaker 2: On Saturday at Darwin Correctional Center.

284
00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,120
Speaker 1: Is that just purely due to the fact that we

285
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,680
Speaker 1: need more staff or were there people calling in sick?

286
00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:23,320
Speaker 3: What was the guy?

287
00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:24,320
Speaker 2: All of the above?

288
00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,120
Speaker 3: To be honest, we had a series of shortages based

289
00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,000
Speaker 3: on roster vacancies. We had a series of shortages based

290
00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,360
Speaker 3: on redirections, as I said to Peter McCaulay, watchhouse, a

291
00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,480
Speaker 3: few other operational activities. We're still running hospital escorts. I

292
00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:42,000
Speaker 3: think today, Katie, I've got three officers in sorry, three prisoners,

293
00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,560
Speaker 3: I should say in Darwin Hospital. I think another two

294
00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:48,080
Speaker 3: in our Springs Hospital. So there's three prisoners equals two

295
00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,320
Speaker 3: officers times twelve hours times.

296
00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:50,840
Speaker 2: Two shifts a day.

297
00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,640
Speaker 3: So three twos of six times two is twelve officers

298
00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,400
Speaker 3: in every twenty four hour period at hospital.

299
00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:01,080
Speaker 1: So I guess from your perspective, that really of reiterates

300
00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,600
Speaker 1: why there is this need for the surge workforce and

301
00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,960
Speaker 1: also to bring in the you know, the contractors.

302
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:11,240
Speaker 3: And that just underscores why we pass those amendments through

303
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,440
Speaker 3: Parliament and work through with government to get those legislation

304
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,800
Speaker 3: changes happened last week. I mean, I just don't accept

305
00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,520
Speaker 3: the comment from the unit that there is no staffing

306
00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:23,600
Speaker 3: crisis in Darwin.

307
00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:25,880
Speaker 2: We've never said that there isn't.

308
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,560
Speaker 3: What I think they're referring to is the fact that

309
00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,240
Speaker 3: we've recruited more officers.

310
00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,560
Speaker 2: Into Darwin than ever before. And you know we have recruited.

311
00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,400
Speaker 3: I guess we've had to because we're now staffing Darwin

312
00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,400
Speaker 3: City Watchhouse and Palmerston and so forth.

313
00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,040
Speaker 2: But I guess you know, the proof is in the numbers.

314
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,280
Speaker 3: And forty five odd officers short on Saturday in a

315
00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,360
Speaker 3: prison lockdown is not the kind of system I think

316
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,960
Speaker 3: Territorians expect us to operate well.

317
00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:54,960
Speaker 1: Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley, I always appreciate your time, appreciate

318
00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,000
Speaker 1: the fact that you take the time to come in

319
00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,280
Speaker 1: to speak to our listeners and no doubt well you

320
00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,040
Speaker 1: know correctional stuff and also prisoners sit listen to the show.

321
00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,160
Speaker 3: Thanks Katie, and thanks to all my staff who show

322
00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,520
Speaker 3: up every day doing the best they can.

323
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:07,760
Speaker 1: Thank you, Thanks so much,