Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley has defended proposed legislation changes allowing him to borrow trained officers from other jurisdictions and utilize private contractors to help ease pressure on the NT’s strained prison system.

It comes after Corrections officers raised serious concerns for their safety after learning of the plans late last night, with some union members threatening to not work with private contractors.

But the Commissioner told Katie Woolf the changes are necessary, with Corrections staff managing 2,700 prisoners and 1,600 people on community supervision orders and more than 600 people with electronic monitoring devices. 

He says the contracted officers will help with prisoner transport, escorts to jails, health and hospital appointments, electronic monitoring and compliance activities.

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