00:00With prisoner numbers through the ceiling, the Territory Government wants more boots
00:07on the ground.
00:08We know that the prison numbers have gone up substantially over the last five months
00:12and the workforce hasn't kicked up.
00:13The CLP will move laws next week allowing private subcontractors to work in the NT prison
00:19system, but they've pulled up short of labelling the move privatisation.
00:24We're not about privatising prisons, we're about increasing the workforce.
00:28Since this time last year, prison numbers have spiked by more than 400.
00:32In spite of the dire need for more prison staff, the Government's plans have been met
00:37with fierce backlash from the union.
00:39Getting transfers from experienced correctional officers does happen when you've got some
00:43staff in crisis.
00:44I just want to make clear, these special officers they're bringing in are not correctional officers.
00:50They're absolutely not, they're not going to be trained as correctional officers, they're
00:53not going to have the qualification.
00:56The union says it could result in a vote of no confidence against Corrections Commissioner
01:00Matthew Varley and potential industrial action.
01:04Why should they be doing 16, 20 hours a day for corrections when no one's caring for them?
01:09The Government's not and Commissioner Varley's not.
01:12While the Government hasn't revealed who they will employ or how much they're willing to
01:15spend, the dire state of the Northern Territory justice system is clear.
01:20Prisons are understaffed and watch houses are full, with one prisoner even escaping
01:24yesterday afternoon.
01:25I can confirm that there was a prisoner who escaped custody, a male prisoner escaped custody
01:30late this afternoon from the Darwin City Watch House, as we refer to the Darwin Police Prison.
01:34Police say the escapee, Chris Cooper, does not pose a risk to public safety, but have
01:39urged the public to contact police if cited.
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