Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley says amendments to allow specialist contractors and corrections officers from other jurisdictions to be deployed in NT prisons is the government’s solution to the staff shortage.

He rejects claims it’s privatization, telling Katie Woolf it’s about giving the Corrections Commissioner more staffing options to deal with the rising number of prisoners. 

Mr Maley says overtime is costing $11 million a year and the use of private contractors will be more cost effective. 

The Minister says all prisoner services like lawn mowing and work and rehabilitation program have ceased due to the staff shortages, and he has committed to reinstate them soon as possible with the legislation up on urgency in NT parliament today.

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