It feels like time has passed quickly since the 2023 announcement that Junee Correctional Centre would transition into public hands, but since they have taken over, despite the benefits they claim it will bring, it doesn’t change the fact that the biggest losers of this takeover are the community and what they have lost in private donations and support.
The big question that was first asked when the takeover was announced was: will any of the funding the GEO Group, the jail’s former owners, provided the community be continued?
After months and months of vagueness, dodging and silence, a clear answer has finally come: NO!
Minister for Corrections, Anoulack Chanthivong, made a lot of sense when he outlined the benefits of the prison to the media. It makes sense that it will be easier for both workers and inmates to have better access to the Governments’ services, pay raises for staff, a bakery that will provide for the State, and that working conditions are meant to improve among other things stated by Labor. Especially considering the various controversies and allegations of prisoner mistreatment and drugs, it makes sense that NSW would want to move in.
What doesn’t make sense is that Labor has essentially left a giant hole in the community right before an election. Although it is a Federal election, it doesn’t bode well in the community that Labor has made this decision. It seemed like an open goal for Labor, so how could they have missed it?
When asked, Mr Chanthivong said it wouldn’t be legal or appropriate to give cash support in the same way GEO did, which may be true, but it doesn’t make Labor’s game plan here not head scratching.
Right before an election, they have essentially come out and said all that support from the GEO Group including scholarships, cash splashes and community bonuses will come to an end.
Perhaps all of this wouldn’t have been as much a blow if Labor were honest out of the gate with the fact of what was and wasn’t going to be continued and didn’t keep the community in the dark for so long. It wasn’t until a few months out from today that Labor decided to be clear that most of these were coming to an end.
While Meals and Wheels continues to be supported according to the Government and they claim to be looking into other ways to help the community, why has it taken them until right before a pivotal Federal election for them to come out and say this?
Labor were likely never able to provide the community with what GEO did considering the legal legroom of a Government service as opposed to a private entity, still, it seems that Labor have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to the area, likely driving disgruntled locals to vote against them if they weren’t already not doing so.
Labor can sing about all the things that are improving in the jail (and they’re likely true), but when all that gold is inside the jail and not in the hands of the community anymore, those who relied on this funding will feel like they are the ones locked up.
– Jack Murray
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
