Murwillumbah parole office in limbo

Date: 23 June 2008

The NSW Department of Corrective Services has failed to address the Murwillumbah community's concerns, pushing ahead with plans shut down the local probation and parole office, according to the Public Service Association of NSW.

The PSA was recently notified that the Department of Corrective Services had decided to shut down the Murwillumbah probation and parole office, relocating the officers and staff to Lismore.

A total of 190 people are currently under the jurisdiction of the Murwillumbah probation and parole office, including 62 parolees and nine sex offenders.

Following repeated attempts to obtain an explanation from Commissioner Ron Woodham without success, the PSA is now considering going to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to halt the process and ensure probationers and parolees aren't left unsupervised.

"The Department has so far refused to listen to our concerns, saying they have no interest in reviewing its decision to close the local probation and parole office in Murwillumbah," said John Cahill, General Secretary of the PSA.

"The proposed closure will mean parolees in the local area will be required to report less regularly, they will be visited at home less frequently and consequently there will be less protection for the community."

The PSA will be meeting with the Department next week and will put forward its case that with 95,000 people living in the Tweed and Byron Shires combined, there is a definite need for a local parole office.

"At this point, the Department is obviously more interested in cutting costs than public safety," said Mr Cahill.

Mr Cahill added that the local community is experiencing an increased rate of crime and it did not make sense to cut services.

"The State Government claims that it is committed to reducing reoffending, but at the same time proposes to close down an office located in a high growth area."

"Cutting services in a growing area is only going to cause the Department more problems down the track," said Mr Cahill.

The PSA is now considering whether or not to lodge a dispute with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

"Ultimately this is about ensuring community safety and if the Department still refuses to review its decision, we will be taking further action."

For further information

Contact:	Helen Sourlas, Industrial Officer
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Phone:	02 9220 0947
Email:	hsourlas@psa.asn.au
WWW:	http://psa.labor.net.au/

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