Victoria's justice department has been charged with criminal safety failures over the violent mass riot that rocked the maximum-security Ravenhall prison last year.
In the largest-ever prison riot in the state's history, about 400 inmates at the Metropolitan Remand Centre caused up to $12 million of damage during an uprising in June 2015, in response to the introduction of a smoking ban.
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Police riot squads battle for control as prisoners in the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall riot over looming smoking ban. (Vision courtesy Seven News Melbourne)
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Inmates riot at Ravenhall Remand Centre
Police riot squads battle for control as prisoners in the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Ravenhall riot over looming smoking ban. (Vision courtesy Seven News Melbourne)
Dozens of staff suffered physical and psychological injuries as a result of the 15-hour rampage, and some may never be able to return to work.
On Thursday, following an extensive investigation into the riot, the state's workplace safety watchdog laid charges against the Department of Justice and Regulation.
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The department was charged by WorkSafe with four breaches of workplace health and safety laws, including failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace, failing to ensure the workplace was safe, and failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to risks.
"WorkSafe understands the significant public interest in the details surrounding this matter,"Â a WorkSafe statement said.
"However, as it is now before the court, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time."
The Community and Public Sector Union, representing staff at the Ravenhall centre, hoped the criminal charges would "finally provide some greater accountability" for workplace health and safety in prisons.
"It may also go some small way towards an acknowledgement that there were measures that could have been taken to prevent the serious ramifications from the riot," union state secretary Karen Batt said.
"[This] should serve as a general warning to those in Treasury who preach private builds that their model has severe flaws and there is a safety and human cost when these are overlooked."
Ms Batt said an inquiry into the Ravenhall riots, conducted by former police deputy commissioner Kieran Walshe, had uncovered "serious operating flaws".
The inquiry found that the riot was the largest in Victorian prison history, and authorities had been "overwhelmed by its sheer scale and intensity".
"The unprecedented nature of this event provides plenty of lessons for state authorities," it said.
Opposition corrections minister Edward O'Donohue said WorkSafe's charges showed the "depth of the crisis in our justice system".
"Daniel Andrews is now onto his fourth corrections minister in a year and failed to prevent the worst prison riot in Victoria's history," he said.
"It is clear this government is utterly inept at managing our corrections system and Daniel Andrews cannot be trusted to maintain public safety."
Mr O'Donohue called on the government to disclose when it will "fully implement" all of the recommendations from the Walshe inquiry into the riot.
"Hard-working prison staff and justice employees deserve a safe workplace," he said.
A spokesman for the Andrews government said Corrections Victoria had implemented a range of new safety measures, including additional staff training and improved emergency preparedness and response systems.
"The wellbeing of prison staff is our priority and senior management continue to work with staff to make sure they feel safe and secure in the workplace," the spokesman said.
"As the matter is before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment further."