Riot Over Doubling Up In Cells Demands Government Response

Media Release.

A riot by inmates angry at being forced to double-up in cells at Capricornia Correctional Centre illustrates the degree to which prisons have been mismanaged by the Newman Government, says Shadow Correctional Services Minister, Bill Byrne.

“I have been warning for more than a year that the emphasis on mandatory sentencing would place intolerable pressure on Queensland’s prisons and now we have seen a full-blown, Code Black riot at Rockhampton’s jail caused by overcrowding,” he said.

“The central issue for me is that the safety and well-being of prison officers is now in jeopardy as a direct consequence of the LNP’s policies."

“There is a volatile situation in jails created by the Newman Government’s decisions to close special courts and cut-back on diversionary sentencing and that has elevated the risk to prison officers who have received no additional resources to cope with an influx of additional inmates."

“Earlier this week officers at the Capricornia Correctional Centre took protest action and I believe the morale of prison staff at this jail and others across the State has hit rock bottom."

“We now have a situation where prison officers have to conduct assessments on the mental health of prisoners before deciding whether they are suitable for doubling up in cells. Officers who have not been trained for such tasks should not have that onerous responsibility thrust on their shoulders. They are not equipped to take such decisions and there could be grave consequences."

“The most worrying aspect of this incident, where the riot control squad was called to restore order in a block where prisoners had reportedly gone berserk, is that things are only going to get worse unless there’s a change of direction from the Government."

“We can now expect to see Ministers defending their position by saying they will not apologise for being tough on crime."

“But what is happening now in the jails has nothing to do with being tough on crime. Filling the jails with offenders who could better be dealt with in other ways is not being tough, it is being stupid."

“I hope the Government is not deliberately creating a crisis in our prisons and playing with the safety of staff to justify its plans to privatise every jail in Queensland.”