[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Prisons for Profit Not The Way To Go

[Christopher Holley]

Prisons for Profit Not The Way To Go

NSW Greens MP and Prisons Spokesperson Sylvia Hale has joined prison
officers and prisoners’ rights groups in opposing state government
proposals to privatise the state’s prisons.

“Introducing the profit motive into the prisons system is not the way
we should be proceeding,” said Ms Hale.

“Prisoners are removed from society for the purposes of deterrence
and rehabilitation, not to be fodder for corporate profit.”

“The government has an obligation to run the prisons system in the
best interests of society. It should be part of a comprehensive strategy
to deliver a safe community, including the provision of the services to
prisoners that are required to minimise the risk of them
re-offending.”

“Multinational corporations are not interested in promoting a safe
community in NSW, they are interested in generating profit. Their focus
will be on cutting costs by reducing working conditions for prison
officers and living conditions for prisoners and on promoting ever more
draconian laws to increase demand for their profit-driven prisons,” Ms
Hale said.

Further information: Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546