G4S says its employees receive thorough training procedures when it comes to prisoner care.
More than 800 staff work at Port Phillip, which will stay open until December 2025. Employees will be offered roles at other maximum security prisons or a redundancy package.
Port Phillip Prison: set to close.Credit: Paul Jeffers
The government expects that about 600 jobs will be available at the new 1200-bed Western Plains facility.
As for what will happen to the Port Phillip facility, Erdogan would not rule out selling the 60-hectare site. “The government will consider all options,” he said. “But … we need to have a community process first.”
The former Pentridge Prison site in Coburg was transformed several years ago into a mixed-use development, featuring housing, shops and even a cinema.
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Victoria’s budget papers forecast net debt to rise to $187.8 billion by June 2028.
As part of Wednesday’s announcement, the government also revealed that the 59-year-old Dhurringile Prison, south-west of Shepparton, would also close, and its prisoners will be transferred to another facility just outside Beechworth.
As with the employees at Port Phillip, Dhurringile staff will be offered roles at other facilities or within the Justice Department more broadly.
A spokesperson for G4S Australia, Port Philip’s private operator, said the company would ensure a smooth closure.
“We thank all our staff and partners for their professionalism and dedication to create a modern, safe and humane maximum security prison system that works to maintain public safety,” they said.
A spokesperson for the Community and Public Sector Union, the union responsible for prison workers, said redundancy provisions and new job offers would be closely monitored.
“Job security going forward is paramount,” the spokesperson said.
Source Agencies
