Police Minister announces the closure of the Darling Downs Correctional Centre
Published Tuesday, 17 July, 2012 at 05:29 PM
Minister for Police and Community Safety
The Honourable Jack Dempsey
Police Minister Jack Dempsey has announced the closure of the Darling Downs Correctional Centre (DDCC) as part of the Newman Government’s strategy to clean up the debt and deficit mess inflicted on Queenslanders by the previous Labor Government.
Mr Dempsey said the DDCC, located southwest of Toowoomba, would close and 140 male prisoners and 40 work camp prisoners would be moved to other correctional facilities.
More than 40 full-time staff employed at the centre and its associated dairy would be relocated or offered redundancy.
“We have to rein-in the spending and waste which was out of control under Labor,” Mr Dempsey said.
Mr Dempsey said the low-security correctional facility’s infrastructure had not had a significant upgrade since 1995.
“The cost to upgrade this facility – estimated to be $20 million - is more than the people of Queensland can currently afford.”
Mr Dempsey said Corrective Services officials would consult with the centre’s staff to try to find employment opportunities elsewhere within the prison system.
“I regret the job losses but in the current difficult financial situation they are unavoidable,” he said
“We will do everything we can to help the staff to find work elsewhere and we are looking at a range of options including transfers to other facilities where vacancies are available.
“Any employee who is not able or willing to be placed elsewhere will be offered redundancy.
“Obviously, we are working to maintain as many positions as possible.”
Mr Dempsey said the centre’s prisoners would be relocated progressively and would take up spare accommodation in other facilities.
The centre’s work camp program which operates in Mitchell, Charleville, Dirranbandi and St George will continue and be run from Palen Creek Correctional Centre.
[ENDS] 17 July 2012
Media Contacts: Danny Donald 0439 719 116 or Sam Smallbone 0417 226 114
Mr Dempsey said the DDCC, located southwest of Toowoomba, would close and 140 male prisoners and 40 work camp prisoners would be moved to other correctional facilities.
More than 40 full-time staff employed at the centre and its associated dairy would be relocated or offered redundancy.
“We have to rein-in the spending and waste which was out of control under Labor,” Mr Dempsey said.
Mr Dempsey said the low-security correctional facility’s infrastructure had not had a significant upgrade since 1995.
“The cost to upgrade this facility – estimated to be $20 million - is more than the people of Queensland can currently afford.”
Mr Dempsey said Corrective Services officials would consult with the centre’s staff to try to find employment opportunities elsewhere within the prison system.
“I regret the job losses but in the current difficult financial situation they are unavoidable,” he said
“We will do everything we can to help the staff to find work elsewhere and we are looking at a range of options including transfers to other facilities where vacancies are available.
“Any employee who is not able or willing to be placed elsewhere will be offered redundancy.
“Obviously, we are working to maintain as many positions as possible.”
Mr Dempsey said the centre’s prisoners would be relocated progressively and would take up spare accommodation in other facilities.
The centre’s work camp program which operates in Mitchell, Charleville, Dirranbandi and St George will continue and be run from Palen Creek Correctional Centre.
[ENDS] 17 July 2012
Media Contacts: Danny Donald 0439 719 116 or Sam Smallbone 0417 226 114