SA prisons in lockdown over 'failure to address overcrowding concerns'
Updated
A union has placed inmates in all South Australian prisons in lockdown over what it says is a failing by the Corrections Department to address overcrowding concerns.
The Public Service Association (PSA) earlier said officers would lock down cells from 5:00pm unless its concerns were addressed.
The union said a bed shortage was forcing "unsuitable prisoners" into low and medium-security Mobilong Prison, near Murray Bridge, which was a risk for prison guards.
Union official Natasha Brown said they met Corrections Department staff earlier today to demand a more stringent assessment process for Mobilong prisoners, but nothing was resolved and members then voted to take industrial action.
"Mobilong is an open campus-style prison, it's not suitable for all types of prisoners and to have high-risk prisoners in that type of facility puts both officer and prisoner safety at risk," Ms Brown said.
The PSA said the type of inmates sent to Mobilong was an ongoing issue, and there had been assaults between prisoners reported.
Corrections Minister Peter Malinauskas said a hearing was underway in the Industrial Relations Commission to decide if prison guards could continue with the statewide prison lockdown.
"There has been a substantial dispute that has already been heard by the Industrial Relations Commission which essentially ruled in favour of the Government," he said.
"There is now a second hearing occurring as we speak."
He said he hoped guards would return to work soon.
Mr Malinausakas said the Government was continuing to invest in more prison beds and hire more staff to manage the growth of the prison system.
Topics: prisons-and-punishment, law-crime-and-justice, unions, government-and-politics, states-and-territories, murray-bridge-5253, sa, adelaide-5000, port-augusta-5700, mount-gambier-5290, cadell-5321
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