Parklea prison returns to government control after 17 years of private management

After 17 years under two private contractors, Parklea Correctional Centre was returned to public management, a move praised by the Public Service Association as a failed experiment in profit-driven incarceration. Corrective Services NSW conducted an unannounced raid, finding a concealed smoking device, a machete hidden under a mattress and drug-related items in a cereal box. Governor Brian Gurney highlighted that gang members maintain external networks and are now employing drones to transport contraband, prompting calls for drone-jamming equipment.

Minister Anoulack Chanthivong indicated the procurement of such technology is in its final stages, emphasizing durability and cost-effectiveness. Inside the prison, more than 1,500 inmates, many on remand, participate in rehabilitation and release-preparation programs, while the health centre faces criticism for unsafe conditions, with officials promising upgrades.