Media Releases
Tough new burglary laws set to worsen prison overcrowding
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is concerned the State Government’s new home burglary laws will put even more pressure on an already overcrowded prison system.The laws, which came into effect on the weekend, will tighten ... Read More
Corrective Services Minister drops the ball on prison management
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has accused the Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis of completely dropping the ball in his portfolio, with prisoner numbers soaring and not enough staff to operate prisons safely.The ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More
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 ... Read More