Related story: Lack of risk assessment for proposed jail questioned.
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Member for Goulburn Pru Goward has re-stated the proposed second jail in Goulburn “will not go ahead.”
The unsolicited bid for the Argyle Correctional Facility, which has now been reduced from housing 5600 prisoners to providing 1800 beds, was knocked back late last year, but is still being pushed by Southern Infrastructure Pty Ltd managing director Paul Watson.
Mr Watson plans to resubmit an amended proposal to the the state government next month and continue consultations in Goulburn, claiming he has received “significant support” from the state member.
Ms Goward told The Post she had supported a request for Mr Watson to attend a briefing at the Premier's office to explain why the proposal had been rejected, but she confirmed the proposal had not garnered sufficient state support to proceed.
“This briefing was an explanation as to why the proposal will not proceed and not a revision of the proposal. The Minister, Premier and I have all been clear that this project will not go ahead,” she said.
“I welcome the opportunity for employment in my electorate, but as the Minister for Corrections David Elliott has advised – there is no operational requirement for a second prison in Goulburn.
“My support - and the community’s support - will always be for more jobs in Goulburn. But that does not mean the building of unnecessary facilities to satisfy the demands of a private developer.”
She said she had received recent information that any modern prison would require a “significantly smaller” workforce.
“Any transfer of inmates to a future new facility would result in fewer staff being required at the existing facility,” she said.
“It’s also worth noting that this proposal to build and operate a private jail is identical to the proposed hospital partnership for Goulburn Base which the Australia Labor Party (ALP) and the unions opposed so strongly. I do not understand why Goulburn’s ALP Branch continues to support this proposal for a private jail.”
Goulburn Labor president Jason Shepherd hit back, referring to Ms Goward's comments as “incorrect”.
“The proposal as we understand it will be government run and government built – we’re only supporting it in that model,” he said.
“For once we need to talk about things rather than make things up. MP Pru Goward hasn’t asked or talked to us about the proposal, how would she know what our position is? People are sick of the fake news.”