Prison bosses misled parliament

Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00

SYDNEY — Acting NSW prisons commissioner Ian McLean misled parliament when he claimed that the women prisoners of the Emu Plains minimum security prison initiated reductions to their visiting hours, Brett Collins of Justice Action claimed on September 1.

McLean made his claim to an estimates committee hearing on August 28. On August 3, Justice Action issued a media release stating that the "new general manager of Emu Plains Correctional Centre has withdrawn 'all day' weekend family and friends visits for the women in prison at Emu Plains. Children will now see their mothers for a maximum of two hours."

Justice Action has proposed to NSW justice minister Tony Kelly that a community panel be appointed to clarify the position of the women at Emu Plains to ensure that parliament is properly informed, but as of September 1 had received no reply.

Nat Gray

From GLW issue 682