POVB Bulletin Tuesday 12 March 2019 – March 2019 (PDF version)

Statewide industrial action

The POVB Executive would like to thank every member that supported the Statewide Industrial Action in support of Goulburn CC & HRMCC members. We would also like to express the same gratitude to every POVB member from the Goulburn members; your support was quite overwhelming and humbling to them and us.

From this we need to continue to be united not divided. The POVB has never been this focused and committed to working collectively to achieve real outcomes that support the membership.

Due to the statewide action we received the commitment from our current Government, that if re-elected, it will change the legislation to support the use of behavioural management plans, not only in the HRMU but statewide. See attached letter HERE.

There have been discussions with our Shadow Minister and the Shadow Attorney General to see if they will honour the agreement the current Government has given us. They have written to us confirming that they will and also change our Workers’ Compensation. See attached letter HERE.

Members of the POVB State Executive, Goulburn POVB Chair and a Representative from the HRMCC met with Acting Commissioner Caruana, Assistant Commissioners Corcoran and Wilson, Senior CSNSW officials and a representative from the Office of General Counsel yesterday to discuss the issues surrounding Staff Safety concerns within the HRMCC.

The following concerns were discussed with positive outcomes:

• Mr Kevin Corcoran to visit the HRMCC on Tuesday 12/03/2019 – discussions will be conducted on strategies to increase staff safety.
• SOG to be on site – SOG to be on site at the HRMCC to ensure staff safety. Commitment was given from Assistant Commissioner Mark Wilson that SOG will remain at Goulburn until the HRMCC was back to a stable condition.
• Shore up legislation around staff assaults – CSNSW Legal Branch have commenced the process from their perspective to progress forward to enable a positive outcome in protecting staff. CSNSW have made a commitment to continue to update members of this progress.
• Review CSNSW segregation policy – CSNSW have given an undertaking to review segregation policy, this will include inmate property entitlements in cell during a segregation period. Correctional Officers are concerned that inmates are using segregation as a time out. As opposed to a remedy for non-compliant behaviour (further minimising a safety risk to staff).
• Review of Assault/Use of Force Committees and after action reviews – Mr Corcoran to issue information to Governors to ensure these are conducted as per COPP. In relation to Assault Committee, ensure that the Staff Member that was assaulted is present and if unable to be present to have been consulted.
• Behavioural Management Level (BML) to be reinstated – Effective immediately BMLs to be reinstated and the program to continue as before. It was highlighted that there is a need for a review of the program at the HRMCC to simplify the stages. A commitment was made by the Department that inmates would be informed of this reinstatement during the visit on Tuesday 12/03/2019.
• Review of the three inmates BML involved in recent staff assaults – A commitment from the Department was reached to review the BML of the three inmates involved in the staff assaults with a view to regress them as per the BML program policy and guidelines.

We will continue to monitor the progress of action from the meeting and update members accordingly.

Once again we would like to congratulate all members on the unity and stance that was taken.

Contact details

• Nicole Jess – Chairperson
  0427 609 199
• Jason Charlton – Vice Chairperson
  0401 500 976
• Thor Sutherland – Country Chairperson
  0447 633 476
• Natalie Howes – Secretary
  0407 011 441
• Darren King – Assistant Secretary
  0407 935 039
• David McCauley – POVB Industrial Officer
  0419 022 767