A report into the May prison riot that saw more than 20 inmates climb onto roofs, light fires and allegedly injure staff at the Darwin Correctional Centre has not been released to the public despite the Gunner Government having the findings since before the election, the Opposition says.
The May riot was described as the most destructive in the NT’s history, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in estimated damages.
In July, former prisons watchdog, professor John Paget, was appointed to independently review the incident, following concerns raised by corrections insiders and others that the Gunner Government was withholding information.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the report has been in the hands of the government since it went into caretaker mode ahead of the 2020 NT Election.
“The Paget review into the riot at the Darwin Correctional Centre must be released to the public immediately,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Territory experienced the most dangerous and destructive prison riot in its history. More than 20 prisoners escaped from their cells and laid siege to the Darwin Correctional Centre for five hours, burning four buildings and threatening staff.
“We need to fully understand the total cost to the Territory of the riot, any injuries to staff or prisoners as well as the measures that will be put in place to ensure that another riot does not take place in the future.”
Initial reports indicated the riot was sparked by prisoner concerns over restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19, Ms Finocchiaro said.
Serious concerns were also raised over the prisoner classification system, with 10 low security prisoners taking part in the riot, while the government allegedly attempted to conceal key information.
Leaked email casts doubts on official government response to prison riot
An email leaked from a prison officer just two weeks after the riot, disputed a number of claims made by Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn at a media conference the day after the riot.
Commissioner McNairn had said the prisoners involved in the riot eventually came down from the roofs of four buildings without force being used, however, the email stated, “people were hurt”.
“One officer was bitten and another one incapacitated when a weapon was thrown at them … another was treated for heat illness/exhaustion and exposure to chemical agents,” the email claimed.
Other sources from within Corrections also came forward as well.
Another source told the NT Independent a lack of beds in the maximum-security section of the prison meant unsuitable prisoners were in the lower security section at the time of the riot.
He added the area did not have metal doors and bars that could be locked up.
“We have prisoners who are unstable, who are sent to low security, too many to be proactive and you only find that out when there is a disturbance,” he said.
“For the money they have spent, they have a prison that is not fit for purpose because it doesn’t have the number of beds required in the different classification areas.”
Ms Finocchiaro said issues were ongoing within the prison due to COVID-19 restrictions, and despite the inquiry, there had been “no indication that the classification issue has been addressed in order to prevent another riot.”
“The total cost of remediating the riot damage has been estimated at more than $40 million,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.
“The Gunner Government needs to be completely transparent with Territorians on the causes of the riot, the total cost to Territorians and concrete steps that they are going to take to protect correctional officers and staff at the prison from another riot.”
protecting inmates is not on anyone’s agenda. Australia is a signatory to the UN convention on the treatment of prisoners, plus there is ample NT legislation, but still inmates are locked down excessively, medical treatment is slow to materialise, rehab for mental health and booze issues almost non existent. booze rehab is a brochure. many inmates have graduated from don dale to holz and there is little to no treatment. mental health issues lead to incarceration, this is known, but treatments in prison is nowhere to be seen. Corrections is a misnomer. incarceration in third world conditions creates these frustrations. On your watch Gunner