NEWS Prisons on war footing

PRISON officers say they are ready to “go to war” with the Territory Government over a proposal to introduce casual staff at NT jails.

The Government has proposed the introduction of a relief pool of casual staff as it seeks to address massive blowouts in its overtime budget.

But officers say they’re prepared to walk off the job if the Government proceeds with the plan: “It will be a brave move by the Government if they do this,” one officer said.

“The unions will go to war with them over this.”

The plan has been put forward as part of a new staff operating model following recommendations from auditors KPMG.

KPMG last year found the Corrections Department had blown its overtime budget by almost $6 million in 2016/17 and recommended the introduction of casual staff and the privatisation of prison escort services to address the issue.

While Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn said the casual relief pool would be taken off the table if unions were opposed to it, AttorneyGeneral Natasha Fyles said the option was still being explored.

“Like all other Government departments, Correctional Services must rein in expenditure,” Ms Fyles said.

“One of the ways this can be achieved is by implementing a more sustainable staffing model.

“As part of the ongoing discussions, the possibility of a relief pool of Correctional Officers is being explored.

“These officers would be employed by the NT Government and could be called on when others can’t work their allocated shift.”

Mr McNairn, who has been tasked with developing the new prison operating model, had earlier said he was not wedded to the plan.

He has been negotiating with the prison officers’ union over the new operating model since October last year and is due to take his final plan to the Government next month.

One officer said staff received repeated assurances the plan for a casual relief pool would be taken off the table.

“This is the first step towards privatisation,” one officer said.

But Mr McNairn and Ms Fyles both said there were no plans to privatise NT prisons.

KPMG last year found the Government could employ 52 full-time senior officers with the amount of money it was spending on overtime and that having some casual staff could address this overspend.

“Correctional Services is not casualising the corrections workforce,” Ms Fyles said.

“They’re attempting to do the opposite.”