The New South Wales government has announced a major overhaul of its correctional system, beginning with the retirement of the 140-year-old maximum-security wings at Goulburn Correctional Centre. Opened in 1884, these Victorian-era facilities rank among the state’s oldest operational prisons and will be phased out to enhance safety conditions for both staff and inmates.
The reforms will not affect the adjacent Goulburn Supermax facility—which houses high-risk offenders including alleged Bondi gunman Naveed Akram—or the minimum-security prison. Approximately 170 inmates convicted of serious crimes including murder and sexual assault will be relocated from the aging complex.
Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong emphasized that the changes are part of a broader strategy to modernize NSW’s prison infrastructure. ‘As inmate numbers rise, we are ensuring our staff have the safest possible workplaces and that those in custody are housed in facilities that meet contemporary standards,’ Chanthivong stated.
The transformation extends to Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre in western Sydney, where two specialized units will be transferred to Dillwynia Correctional Centre. The Mental Health Screening Unit and Mum Shirl Unit, currently operating in facilities criticized for dilapidated conditions and ligature points, will be moved to modern accommodations better suited for high-needs female inmates.
Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McCahon confirmed that impacted staff will be offered redeployment opportunities within the state’s correctional system, with additional incentives available for those considering relocation. The reforms aim to align prison infrastructure with the department’s commitment to operating ‘safe, secure and humane prisons’ while improving working conditions for correctional officers.
The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns following the February cancellation of a family visit to Akram after prohibited items, including a knife, were discovered in his family’s vehicle. The alleged perpetrator of Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack remains housed at the Supermax facility alongside other high-profile criminals including terrorists and organized crime figures.