Public opposes prisons for profit

Date: 04 February 2009

The NSW public has rejected the State Government's plans to privatise state prisons, with less than 20 per cent of the public supporting the plan.

Prison officers released the polling to coincide with the launch of the Stop the Cell-Off campaign.

Long Bay prison officers will walk off the job at 11am to rally outside the offices of local Labor MP Michael Daley, who has publicly stated his support for the privatisation plans.

NSW Public Service Association general secretary John Cahill said the rally would send the message that both prison officers and the general community were appalled by the idea of private corporations running prisons for profit.

The poll of 1003 people conducted by Essential Research over January found:

• just 19 per cent of respondents support privatising Cessnock and Parklea prisons
• and only 20 per cent support the proposal to privatise prisoner transport.

"Where the public has a view, that view is overwhelmingly opposed - in fact 70 per cent of people who have formed an opinion oppose the sell-off.

"They know that privatisation will mean fewer, lower paid jobs, less security for the community and an dramatic decrease in rehabilitation programs and standards of care," Mr Cahill said.

"Overseas and interstate experience has shown time and time again that everyone suffers when prisons are privatised.

"Nor is there any strong evidence that taxpayers will save a cent - in fact, often, private prisons cost more to run than public ones.

"We note the new Minister for Corrective Services' longstanding and vocal opposition to privatisation, and look forward to working with him to implement reform while retaining this core part of the justice system in state control.

Media Alert

What: Stop the Cell Off Rally
When: 12pm, Wednesday 4th February
Where: Cnr of Maroubra and Anzac Parade, Maroubra

For further information

Contact:	John Cahill, General Secretary
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Phone:	9220 0982
Email:	psa@psa.asn.au
WWW:	http://psa.labor.net.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]