Published Tuesday, 04 September, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
SPENCE ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL TENDERS FOR PRISONS
Minister for Corrective Services Judy Spence has announced the successful tenders to run Queensland’s privately operated Arthur Gorrie and Borallon Correctional Centres for the next five years.
“I am pleased to announce GEO Australia as the successful tender for Arthur Gorrie and Serco Australia as the successful tender for Borallon,” Ms Spence said.
“These two companies have come through a rigorous tender process carried out by Queensland Corrective Services to win the contracts worth more than $250 million over five years.
“GEO Australia is part of the GEO Group which manages correctional facilities all over the world including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa as well as in Victoria and New South Wales.
“GEO has been managing Arthur Gorrie since 1992 and is overseeing the expansion of the prison which will become an 890 bed remand only centre from 1 January, 2008.
“The company will also continue to look after some of Queensland’s most notorious prisoners in Arthur Gorrie’s 18 bed Maximum Security Unit.”
Ms Spence said Serco Australia will be managing operations at the Borallon Correctional Centre for the first time.
“Serco is also part of a global group which manages correctional facilities in Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Asia Pacific and it also operates the Casuarina prison in Western Australia.”
“I would like to thank Management and Training Corporation Australia (MTC), which has managed Borallon since 2000.”
Ms Spence said the successful tenders presented the best value options for the government.
“Both companies are experienced managers of private prisons and the government is confident they will maintain the high standards expected.”
“The government has the option to extend these contracts for another three years if we are happy with management at the prisons.
“Queensland was the first jurisdiction in Australia and one of the first outside the United States to contract the management of prisons out to the private sector.
“This has been an extremely successful arrangement and I am sure GEO Australia and Serco Australia will maintain that tradition,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287
“I am pleased to announce GEO Australia as the successful tender for Arthur Gorrie and Serco Australia as the successful tender for Borallon,” Ms Spence said.
“These two companies have come through a rigorous tender process carried out by Queensland Corrective Services to win the contracts worth more than $250 million over five years.
“GEO Australia is part of the GEO Group which manages correctional facilities all over the world including the United States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa as well as in Victoria and New South Wales.
“GEO has been managing Arthur Gorrie since 1992 and is overseeing the expansion of the prison which will become an 890 bed remand only centre from 1 January, 2008.
“The company will also continue to look after some of Queensland’s most notorious prisoners in Arthur Gorrie’s 18 bed Maximum Security Unit.”
Ms Spence said Serco Australia will be managing operations at the Borallon Correctional Centre for the first time.
“Serco is also part of a global group which manages correctional facilities in Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Asia Pacific and it also operates the Casuarina prison in Western Australia.”
“I would like to thank Management and Training Corporation Australia (MTC), which has managed Borallon since 2000.”
Ms Spence said the successful tenders presented the best value options for the government.
“Both companies are experienced managers of private prisons and the government is confident they will maintain the high standards expected.”
“The government has the option to extend these contracts for another three years if we are happy with management at the prisons.
“Queensland was the first jurisdiction in Australia and one of the first outside the United States to contract the management of prisons out to the private sector.
“This has been an extremely successful arrangement and I am sure GEO Australia and Serco Australia will maintain that tradition,” Ms Spence said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287