Thursday, 15 May 2025

Prison workplace safety

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (02:05): (1636) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Corrections regarding the alarming increase in assaults on prison guards in Victoria. The action I seek is for the minister to urgently address the safety concerns of prison staff and immediately implement measures to protect them from violent attacks. Recent data reveals that Victorian prison guards are being attacked, sexually assaulted and even hospitalised by some of the state’s worst dangerous criminals. In the past 12 months alone there have been 442 attacks, including 10 sexual assaults on staff and six serious attacks. This is not acceptable in any workplace environment.

In one such instance that occurred in my electorate two prison officers were bashed by an enraged bikie inmate at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall. The officers were left unconscious after being knocked down to the ground and repeatedly stomped on. They were subsequently taken to hospital. This attack occurred in the Exford management unit, where the prisoners are supposedly kept under tight security.

The situation has reached a critical point, with prison officers prepared to vote on a no-confidence motion against the Corrections Victoria commissioner Larissa Strong in the coming months. The Community and Public Sector Union has highlighted ongoing concern about the commissioner’s response to staff safety issues in the management of prisoners and her unwillingness to engage with union delegates on serious matters. Now data has also revealed that 360 assaults have occurred in maximum security prisons, with the Melbourne Assessment Prison and the Metropolitan Remand Centre recording the highest numbers. The women-only Dame Phyllis Frost Centre also reported a significant number of assaults.

The Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections David Southwick has described the prison system as being in chaos and plagued by staff shortages, safety issues and overcrowding. This is a failure of the Allan Labor government to prioritise community first. Considering these alarming stats and the severe impact on prison staff, I urge the minister to take immediate action. This includes reviewing and improving safety protocols, increasing staff levels and ensuring prison officers have the necessary resources and support to perform their duties safely. The safety of our prison staff is paramount. It is the responsibility of the Victorian Labor government to ensure that they are protected from harm. I call the minister to provide a clear and transparent plan to address these issues and restore Victorian public confidence in the management of our prison system.