Media Releases
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, ... Read More
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 ... Read More
Government forced to address overcrowding in women's prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said it remained unconvinced that converting part of a male prison to house female prisoners was the best option to alleviate overcrowding.The State Government has announced it will convert ... Read More
Prison numbers skyrocket under Barnett Government
A recent report reveals the prison population in Western Australia has increased by almost a third since the Barnett Government was elected.The snapshot of the state’s prison system by the Economic Regulation Authority ... Read More
Union raises questions about government's agenda behind review
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has raised questions about whether the State Government is planning to use an Economic Regulation Authority review into the prison system as a justification to pursue its privatisation ... Read More
Committee raises concerns about Prison Officers' Discipline Bill
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has called on the State Government to clarify a number of issues raised by a Standing Committee report into the Prison Officers’ Discipline Bill.The Standing Committee on Legislation’s ... Read More
Unions reach breakthrough EBA with Serco at Acacia Prison
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said it was pleased staff at the privately run Acacia prison had voted overwhelmingly to accept an EBA offer from their employer, Serco.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said he was delighted that ... Read More
Staff shortage forces Hakea Prison into lockdown again
Hakea prison has been in lock down since Thursday morning due to dangerously low staffing levels.The prison was around 27 Prison Officers short on Thursday and 17 short on Friday, even after all available staff were called ... Read More
Workers frustrated as Serco drags its heels in EBA negotiations
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said staff at Acacia prison were becoming increasingly frustrated with their employer Serco for failing to reach a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.Staff at Acacia overwhelmingly rejected ... Read More
Safety concerns amid chronic staff shortages in prisons
The WA Prison Officers’ Union has raised serious safety concerns, amid chronic staff shortages in several of the state’s prisons.Casuarina maximum security prison has been on rolling lockdowns in the past week because ... Read More
New report into Acacia Prison vindicates Union EBA stance
A new report into the Serco-run Acacia prison has found significant issues with staffing levels, which is also one of the main issues of contention in current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiations.A report by the ... Read More
Prisoners locked down as prisons run short of staff
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said it was shocking that prisoners at the state’s two largest prisons were on lockdown because there were not enough staff to operate them.WAPOU Secretary John Welch said Casuarina was 34 ... Read More
Prison units still closed as prisoner numbers soar
New figures have revealed WA’s prisons are bursting at the seams, and are currently holding almost 30% more prisoners than they’re designed for.The figures revealed Albany regional prison was currently the most ... Read More
Plans to open prison units without staff to run them
The WA Prison Officers’ Union said the State Government’s decision to open new prison units at Hakea and Casuarina vindicated its position that WA’s prisons were chronically overcrowded.One unit was opened at Casuarina ... Read More
Concern about State Government’s continued privatisation agenda
The WA Prison Officers’ Union is very concerned about comments made by the Corrective Services Minister that the prison security contract could be taken from Serco and awarded to another company.The State Government is ... Read More