OVERCROWDING and casualisation of the workforce is squarely to blame for continuing unrest at Goulburn Jail, says the State Opposition.
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Shadow Corrections spokesman, Guy Zangari fired the missive on Friday after learning of last week's alleged assaults on officers.
"These things keep happening week in, week out across NSW jails," he said.
"When will the government get serious and put enough officers on the ground so there's not this opportunity for them to be injured?"
Mr Zangari said officers had told him that hurled cans covered in socks, was like "being hit with a baton."
"To be pelted with cans filled with excrement- well, it wasn't a nice situation," he told the Post.
Mr Zangari criticised the "high casualisation" of the jail workforce, particularly at Goulburn. Staff needed to be mentored and continuity was essential to ensure the highest level of security.
He maintained inmates knew casual officers were "more vulnerable."
Mr Zangari also called for greater resourcing.
"(On Thursday) there were two officers with 80 years' experience between them moving up to 50 inmates between yards. It's difficult on the ground for them," he said.
"We've had several outbreaks of fighting, including between gangs, and when that is the norm there's something wrong with the system.
"The bottom line is the Government is not supporting officers and prisons like Goulburn are under-staffed. The Government's push for privatisation of jails is not dealing with the problem at hand."
He blamed overcrowding for much of the violence and said officers deserved to be protected and to "go home in one piece".
NSW Prison Officers Vocational Branch chair Steve McMahon said the unrest over several years was "clearly related to overcrowding and building frustration".
"The bad behaviour of inmates is a constant threat to prison officers and something we face every day, and it is not well recognised by the Government and its policies.
"Having a casual workforce, with guards not always in the same place and not completely aware of everything, can cause instability. We have always been opposed to prison officers being a casual workforce because it does relate to heightened security risk."
Last month Mr Zangari said the conversion of 74 single-bed cells to two beds at Goulburn Jail would only make matters worse. Supermax was also to receive another 36 prisoners, according to a leaked government document.
But a Departmental spokesperson said prisoner numbers at Goulburn had not increased since 2012 and double ups in 75 cells had "been in place for many years."
"This has nothing to do with current events," he said.
"Whenever prisoner numbers are increased, that is done with the union's consent."
He said staff safety was of paramount importance in all NSW prisons. The Department "always" maintained appropriate staffing levels and worked "proactively" with the union to address operational routines.
"Fully and well-trained casual staff have been widely used in NSW prisons for many years," he said.