1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: What we do know this morning is that corrections offices 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: have been deployed from Darwin to Alice Springs Correctional Center 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: as it continues to battle staffing shortages. Now it has 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: been reported that ten officers were sent to the center. 5 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: A mid fear is that it would have to stop 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: visitations as well as programs for prisoners due to critical understaffing. Now, 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: joining me on the line with additional information and to 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: tell us more about exactly what is going on at 9 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: this point is Erina Early from the Northern Territory United 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: Workers Union. Good morning to. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 2: You, Hey, Katie, how are you? 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 3: Yeah? Really good? 13 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: Great to have you on the show. Erina, tell me 14 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: why were these officers sent to Alice Springs. 15 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,959 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, as you've probably known from previous times you've 16 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: had a track is Alice Springs have not been fully 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 2: staffed since they opened over thirty years ago. Over the 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: last six months, it's been crisis level at Alice Springs 19 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: Corrections with the short staffing officers. 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: Erina, what makes you say that it's at crisis levels? 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 3: Can you describe that for us? 22 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 2: So when I'm using crisis level, I'm trying not to 23 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: use it. Flippidy is for example, you've got three hundred 24 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: and thirty prisoners locked away in the evening and we've 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 2: only got three officers. 26 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: What yes, so one officer like per one hundred prisoner. 27 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So you know, we're getting down to these low 28 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 2: levels and we're constantly round about thirty eight officers short 29 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: each shift, etc. In Alice Springs. 30 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 3: Erin of those numbers are massive. 31 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 1: I mean you're talking about overnight there, so I think 32 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: you said three hundred and thirty prisoners and then you've 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: got three officers you know, to look after all of 34 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: them while they are obviously locked up overnight. 35 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: What are the numbers like during the day. 36 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: During the day, roughly you're looking roughly between between twenty 37 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: eight to thirty eight being short. And we had Commission 38 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: of Varley mentioned a couple of weeks ago to the 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: media that there's no issue in Alice Springs and within 40 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: forty eight hours of him making this announcement to the media, 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: further crisis levels and ten correctional officers in Darwin was 42 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 2: sent to Alice Springs to help out. 43 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: So how long are those officers therefore, that were sent 44 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: from Darwin to Alice. 45 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 2: They're leaving this weekend most of the leaving this weekend. 46 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 3: And so what's going to happen. 47 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 2: Then we're back to the crisis level and Alice Springs. 48 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: We were hoping they might be able to extend some 49 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: of the Office Darwen officers coming down to help Alice 50 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: Springs members. They've actually had a bit of a thy 51 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: release having these additional officers, but we've been advised at 52 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: this stage there's no intention to continue this Aarona. 53 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: Why is it so difficult to recruit staff and to 54 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: recruit correctional officers in Alice Springs? 55 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 2: Well, it's interesting, Katie. I think we've got definitely attraction 56 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: and attention. We seem to be having officers over the 57 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: last couple of years. We were getting them, but they 58 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: weren't staying. We've got a high rate of assaults. Also 59 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 2: too is people they're doing a lot of overtime because 60 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: of the short starting etc. So they are burnt out. 61 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 2: They've got high mental health issues as well, and they 62 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: feel that they're undervalued and disrespected by management. Is a 63 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: very toxic workplace. 64 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: Have we ever seen a situation before, like in your 65 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: time with the union, have you ever seen a situation 66 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: before where officers have had to be deployed from Darwin 67 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: to Alla Springs correctional facility. 68 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: What this many, Kati. I've been with the union over 69 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: sixteen years now and they've only employed like a couple 70 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: to help out, but not as many as can be 71 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: flown down there. This is the first time we've had this. 72 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: So there's obviously some big concerns when it comes to 73 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: the those staffing levels. What's the situation like for us 74 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: up here in Darwin at the moment? Have we got 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: enough staff at the correctional facility in Darwin? 76 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: So Darwin is still short stuff, but not to the 77 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: levels and the crisis levels Alice Springs, And that's why 78 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 2: Darwin call to help accommodate to bring some down. So 79 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 2: currently they have and the Commissioner Balley has mentioned they're 80 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 2: roughly recruited about sixty officers. But the thing is they've 81 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: actually lost about forty to fifty correctional officers and out 82 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 2: of those sixty that the Commissioner refers to, only six 83 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: week to Alice Springs. 84 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: Erina, can I ask, you know, we talk about those 85 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: the number of prisoners and the number of officers, you know, 86 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: sort of per per prisoners. What are those staffing levels 87 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: supposed to be. Like I mean, I know many years 88 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: ago when I used to lifeguard at the pool, there's 89 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: a certain number of people that should be in the 90 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: pool at any one time, and a certain number of 91 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: lifeguards that should be their supervising them. Is there a 92 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 1: situation like that, We're it's a prisoner to correctional services 93 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: officer ratio that should be met. 94 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: Yees, So we do have safe starting levels, and we 95 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: can't actually discuss too much of that because of the 96 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 2: security of the prison, Katie, Okay, but say, for example, 97 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 2: in Alice Springs, is there should be a there should 98 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 2: be a to be fully start you need roughly about 99 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: one hundred and eighty rostered officers. 100 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 3: Right, And are we there? Obviously not, We're not even half. 101 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: We're two from here, Erina, Because I guess the big 102 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: thing is, you know, we all understand that these pay 103 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 1: negotiations are continuing on and the wage freeze is you know, 104 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: has changed somewhat over recent weeks. But from what I 105 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: can gather with the correctional officers, it's more about the 106 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 1: actual you know, the conditions and their safety concerns rather 107 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: than the pay. Am I correct in making that statement? 108 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 2: Yes? So their safety and their number one claim in 109 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: their enterprise agreement Katie, than it is the wages as well, 110 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 2: because two percent is way too low. 111 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 3: So where to from here? What's going to happen? 112 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: You know, if we have got a situation where the 113 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: prisons are overflowing it seems or there is a lot 114 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: of prisoners and it doesn't seem as though there is 115 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: the you know enough correctional services offices. 116 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: Well, we are having discussions with the Minister in regards 117 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: to that correction, especially the crisis levels and Alice springs, 118 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 2: but we're getting to a stage and especially with the 119 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 2: Enterprise agreement too, is it's not moving quick enough Katie. 120 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 2: So basically, if we could be in a position where corrections, 121 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: especially Alice spreens, correctional officers are seriously considering walking off 122 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: and not coming back until the starting level is actually resolved, Erona, can. 123 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: I ask as well, do you have any idea at 124 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: this point in time? I know quite some time back 125 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: there was serious damage caused at you know, at the 126 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 1: correctional facility here in Darwin as a result of a 127 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: riot that had happened in a Has that been fixed 128 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: or where are things at with that? 129 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: It's Okay, they've only just started now working on that, 130 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: so it's currently getting fixed. Now. 131 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: How long ago did that damage happen? 132 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 2: You were two years ago and so it's. 133 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: Just starting to be fixed now. Have you been given 134 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: any idea as to why it's taken so long? 135 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: I think it's government red tape, Katie, I think and 136 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: stuff there. So just show your priority. You know that 137 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 2: the department looks at, you know, making these changes to 138 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: the prison because the officers have to walk past us 139 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: every day. It's not good for their mental health seeing 140 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 2: you know, it gives them flashbacks and reminders what happened 141 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: at that riot. So those riots were very scary. 142 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 3: What's that like? Does it mean that there are that 143 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 3: there's not? 144 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: Like? Does it have an impact in terms of where 145 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: the prisoners are are housed or is it more office space? 146 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: What's the go in terms of the area that is damaged. 147 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, so when you do have a damaged area in corrections, 148 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: they will have to send you where it is and 149 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: then they will have to move prisoners around. Then they 150 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: have to move around like operational things like cameras and 151 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: all of those type of things. So it's not just 152 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 2: an easy process. We're just going to move people here 153 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: next door. It can completely change the whole operations and 154 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: security of the correctional center. 155 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: All right, Well, very interesting stuff and very interesting to 156 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: hear that works only just started on rectifying that part 157 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: of the prison erin early We always appreciate your time. 158 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: Thanks very much for having a chat with us this morning. 159 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, have a great day you too.