Prison guards walk off the job after officers bashed by inmate

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Correctional officers across NSW have walked off the job after an inmate who bashed four guards was spared a prison sentence by a Local Court magistrate.

Four guards at Cessnock correctional facility were assaulted in February by Cameron Welsh, who was awaiting sentencing on another charge at the time. All officers sustained injuries to their faces, and two will most likely never return to work, the Public Service Association said.

The walk-off began with Cessnock and Bathurst guards on Thursday morning, with officers from the state’s other 34 public prisons to follow, the union said. The 48-hour strike will end on Saturday morning.

“In giving Mr Welsh a slap on the wrist, this magistrate has delivered a slap in the face to every prison officer in this state who keeps our community safe from those who’ve forfeited their right to walk amongst us,” Public Service Association president Nicole Jess said.

Prisoners were put into lockdown on Thursday and kept in their cells with only senior staff remaining. The industrial action has also affected the courts: some matters were unable to continue as scheduled without correctional staff to facilitate inmates’ appearances in court.

“The attorney-general better get himself out of whatever meeting or media opportunity or announcement he’s currently engaged in and get this solved, or else the state’s prison system is going to go into meltdown,” Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little said.

Images from the Public Service Association NSW showing injuries sustained by one of the guards.

The sentencing of former NSW MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward is scheduled for Friday, but may be delayed if the industrial action continues. An urgent hearing was called in the Industrial Relations Commission for Thursday afternoon.

Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said while he understood the disappointment of officers, he said “a decision of the independent judiciary is not a basis for industrial action”.

Chanthivong said the police prosecutor was considering an appeal against the sentence, and the Commissioner of Corrective Services would seek a meeting with the parole authority to oppose Welsh’s release.

More to come.

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