The NSW government is not renewing its contract with GEO for the operation of Junee Correctional Centre. The GEO Group Australia issued a statement on November 1 confirming the prison would revert to state hands on March 31, 2025.
Junee Correctional Centre was opened by the State Government in 1993. The men’s mixed-security prison has been privately operated by the US-owned company ever since. Junee Correctional Centre is one of the largest employers in the Riverina region with staff overseeing more than 1,000 inmates. Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the contract with GEO Group will not be renewed when it expires in March 2025. GEO lost the contract to operate Parklea Prison in 2018, after a series of incidents. Local MP Steph Cooke had some scathing criticism about Labors’ decision, saying the Minister has not been clear with his intentions.
“I’m calling on Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong to come forward and be up front with the community about his plans for the future operations of the Junee Correctional Centre,” she said.
“The centre has been managed by the GEO Group for over 30 years; in that time, they have been an important part of the Junee community. They have been a major employer in the town–one of the biggest in the Riverina region–which obviously has significant flow-on effects within the broader community.
“They’ve also been a part of various fundraising efforts including supporting our farmers through previous droughts, and have initiated programs where by inmates contribute to the beautification of the town, creating an inviting place to live, work, and visit.” Ms Cooke said that there was no community consultation before this decision.
“Once again, we’re faced with a situation whereby this city-centric NSW Labor Government seems to be making unilateral decisions far removed from the regional communities that feel the impact.
“The community deserves to hear directly from the Minister, not only about his plan for the future of the centre, but the reasons behind the decision.”
The Junee jail has faced criticism in recent years, including prisoner deaths.
The GEO Group said in a statement, “the decision has been met by staff and management with much disappointment and surprise given 30 years of successful operations by GEO, and recognition of GEO’s continuous high standard of service delivery at the centre. “GEO has operated Junee Correctional Centre since its commissioning in 1993 and is extremely proud of its long standing history in the local Junee community and broader Riverina.
“The centre is the region’s largest employer and over the years our staff have worked tirelessly to forge strong and enduring partnerships with local stakeholders to deliver a safe and secure facility, while pro- moting better outcomes for the people entrusted in GEO’s care.”
The GEO Group said they have “implemented a broad range of innovations” at the Correctional Centre, to “ensure people in custody could access a vast range of life-changing initiatives towards reducing recidivism.”
“These include education, vocational skills development, family support, counselling, and drug and alcohol programs. This is part of GEO’s Continuum of Care model for delivering correctional services from a person’s reception to their release.
“Further, GEO’s focus on meeting the specific cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our care has seen the success of initiatives such as the annual Dreaming Inside: Voices from Junee Correctional Centre book writing project, as well as the implementation of culturally appropriate education, programs, health- care, and events.
“GEO will hand over operations with the proud knowledge its social endeavours are imprinted throughout the community and hope these will continue. To name a few fundraising efforts involving staff and inmates, our school breakfast program, annual Youth in Focus Scholarships, Meals on Wheels partnership, donations of cars and furniture built by the men training and working in our vocational services area, building the local dog park and the efforts of our community work crews maintaining the local area.
“Even though staff are disappointed by this decision, and given the uncertainties and challenges brought about by transitioning to a new employer, GEO and its staff will work with the NSW Government to ensure a smooth handover.” More to come as the situation develops.