NT
Children to be Questioned For Two Days
The Northern Territory government has unveiled changes to allow police to question children and hold them for up to 48 hours in police cells, without an adult being present.
The changes to youth justice laws will be debated in Parliament.
Under current rules, children must be released by police if they are not brought before a court within 24 hours or the next business day, unless an extension is approved by a judge.
NSW
Funding For Women’s Programs
Nearly half a million dollars will go towards programs for women in prison.
The NSW government will spend $450,000 on three programs in women’s prisons.
The Success Works – Pathways to Success program will provide targeted learning and leadership opportunities, with a focus on improving confidence and employment opportunities post-release.
The Women and Girls Emergency Centre will provide a six-week housing pathways and life skills program to build financial literacy and independent living skills.
And SHINE For Kids will continue to run the Bringing Up Great Kids, Dinner Club program, which involves Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin and encourages mothers inside to work on connections with their children and family before they are released.
The programs will be run at Dillwynia, the Jacaranda Cottages at Emu Plains, Reiby Youth Justice Centre and Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre.
Prison Guards Go on Strike
Prison guards around NSW went on strike to protest the planned closure of parts of Goulburn Correctional Centre.
The prison officers were later ordered to return to work.
The NSW government has announced plans to close two maximum-security wings of the ageing Goulburn Correctional Centre.
The union representing the prison officers said there had been a “breakdown of communication” around the planned closures.
VIC
Multiple Incidents at Western Plains
There have been a number of incidents at Western Plains Correctional Centre in the space of a week.
In late May a fire in a cell at the prison led to firefighters being called.
The fire was contained before they arrived.
This was just days after an inmate and staff member at the same prison were taken to hospital following another fire.
Also in late May an inmate was stabbed at Western Plains, allegedly by another inmate.
Western Plains officially opened in June 2025, with a price tag of over $1 billion.
TAS
Major Legal Groups Call Out Ongoing Prison Lockdowns
Three major Tasmania legal groups have called out the ongoing lockdowns in the state’s prisons, calling on the government to end them.
The Law Society of Tasmania, Prisoners Legal Service and Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service said the lockdowns were a “human rights issue” that must be addressed urgently.
“We call on Tasmanian government and the relevant unions with coverage of the prison system to work together urgently to end the inhumanity of lockdowns,” the groups said.
“The unions and government have a legal and moral obligation to ensure prisoners’ human rights are protected.”
Prisoners Legal Service chair Greg Barns has said that days spent in lockdowns should reduce the length of someone’s prison sentence.
People in prison in Tasmania have the lowest time out of cell in Australia, with just seven hours per day out of cell in 2024-25, below the national average of 8.9 hours.
Youth Detention Centre to Become Adult Prison
The Tasmania government has announced a plan to turn the Ashley Youth Detention Centre into a minimum-security adult prison.
The Commission of Inquiry into Government Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings in 2022 recommended the youth prison be closed as soon as possible.
It was labelled a “gladiator pit” and a “prison for kids”.
The youth prison will be shut after the new Pontville Youth Detention facility is ready, which is expected to be in 2028.
The adult prison will be an agriculture-based rehabilitation and training facility, and will house about 40 people.
SA
Violent Incident at Yatala
Two people incarcerated at Yatala Labour Prison have been taken to hospital after a violent incident.
A fight in a cell at the prison, allegedly over the television, led to two men later being taken to hospital.
SA Ambulance was called to the prison hours later after reports of the fight, and the two men were eventually taken to hospital.
They were returned to the prison later on the same night.
NT
Children to be Questioned For Two Days
The Northern Territory government has unveiled changes to allow police to question children and hold them for up to 48 hours in police cells, without an adult being present.
The changes to youth justice laws will be debated in Parliament.
Under current rules, children must be released by police if they are not brought before a court within 24 hours or the next business day, unless an extension is approved by a judge.
NSW
Funding For Women’s Programs
Nearly half a million dollars will go towards programs for women in prison.
The NSW government will spend $450,000 on three programs in women’s prisons.
The Success Works – Pathways to Success program will provide targeted learning and leadership opportunities, with a focus on improving confidence and employment opportunities post-release.
The Women and Girls Emergency Centre will provide a six-week housing pathways and life skills program to build financial literacy and independent living skills.
And SHINE For Kids will continue to run the Bringing Up Great Kids, Dinner Club program, which involves Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin and encourages mothers inside to work on connections with their children and family before they are released.
The programs will be run at Dillwynia, the Jacaranda Cottages at Emu Plains, Reiby Youth Justice Centre and Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre.
Prison Guards Go on Strike
Prison guards around NSW went on strike to protest the planned closure of parts of Goulburn Correctional Centre.
The prison officers were later ordered to return to work.
The NSW government has announced plans to close two maximum-security wings of the ageing Goulburn Correctional Centre.
The union representing the prison officers said there had been a “breakdown of communication” around the planned closures.
VIC
Multiple Incidents at Western Plains
There have been a number of incidents at Western Plains Correctional Centre in the space of a week.
In late May a fire in a cell at the prison led to firefighters being called.
The fire was contained before they arrived.
This was just days after an inmate and staff member at the same prison were taken to hospital following another fire.
Also in late May an inmate was stabbed at Western Plains, allegedly by another inmate.
Western Plains officially opened in June 2025, with a price tag of over $1 billion.
TAS
Major Legal Groups Call Out Ongoing Prison Lockdowns
Three major Tasmania legal groups have called out the ongoing lockdowns in the state’s prisons, calling on the government to end them.
The Law Society of Tasmania, Prisoners Legal Service and Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service said the lockdowns were a “human rights issue” that must be addressed urgently.
“We call on Tasmanian government and the relevant unions with coverage of the prison system to work together urgently to end the inhumanity of lockdowns,” the groups said.
“The unions and government have a legal and moral obligation to ensure prisoners’ human rights are protected.”
Prisoners Legal Service chair Greg Barns has said that days spent in lockdowns should reduce the length of someone’s prison sentence.
People in prison in Tasmania have the lowest time out of cell in Australia, with just seven hours per day out of cell in 2024-25, below the national average of 8.9 hours.
Youth Detention Centre to Become Adult Prison
The Tasmania government has announced a plan to turn the Ashley Youth Detention Centre into a minimum-security adult prison.
The Commission of Inquiry into Government Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings in 2022 recommended the youth prison be closed as soon as possible.
It was labelled a “gladiator pit” and a “prison for kids”.
The youth prison will be shut after the new Pontville Youth Detention facility is ready, which is expected to be in 2028.
The adult prison will be an agriculture-based rehabilitation and training facility, and will house about 40 people.
SA
Violent Incident at Yatala
Two people incarcerated at Yatala Labour Prison have been taken to hospital after a violent incident.
A fight in a cell at the prison, allegedly over the television, led to two men later being taken to hospital.
SA Ambulance was called to the prison hours later after reports of the fight, and the two men were eventually taken to hospital.
They were returned to the prison later on the same night.
WA
Two Cases of Diphtheria in Prison
There have been two cases of diphtheria identified in a regional Western Australian prison.
The cases have been linked to West Kimberley Regional Prison in the last two months.
Diphtheria is a contagious infection that impacts the throat and skin. It can be deadly for those who are not vaccinated, or are undervaccinated.
The two cases were during different times, and were not contracted while the individuals were in prison.
There have been 92 cases of diphtheria reported in the wider Kimberley region, with health authorities now urging people to get vaccinated.
ACT
Internet Access Allowed For Man on Bail
A man on bail has been allowed to access the internet to help him apply for jobs.
The man had been released on bail under house arrest, and had been prevented from accessing electronic devices or the internet.
At the ACT Magistrates Court in late May, lawyers for the man argued that he needed to access the internet to look for work, and to help with work-from-home arrangements.
This was granted by the Magistrate.
QLD
Drone Carrying Drugs Taken Down
A drone carrying an estimated $1 million in drugs has been intercepted trying to fly over the Townsville prison.
Queensland authorities said that the drone was attempted to take drugs, syringes and a mobile phone into the Townsville Correctional Centre in mid-May.
No one has been arrested yet for the incident, and police are currently investigating.
In 2022, a drone found with drugs worth an estimated $250,000 was found flying over the same prison.
A man was later charged with four offences over this incident.
WA
Two Cases of Diphtheria in Prison
There have been two cases of diphtheria identified in a regional Western Australian prison.
The cases have been linked to West Kimberley Regional Prison in the last two months.
Diphtheria is a contagious infection that impacts the throat and skin. It can be deadly for those who are not vaccinated, or are undervaccinated.
The two cases were during different times, and were not contracted while the individuals were in prison.
There have been 92 cases of diphtheria reported in the wider Kimberley region, with health authorities now urging people to get vaccinated.
ACT
Internet Access Allowed For Man on Bail
A man on bail has been allowed to access the internet to help him apply for jobs.
The man had been released on bail under house arrest, and had been prevented from accessing electronic devices or the internet.
At the ACT Magistrates Court in late May, lawyers for the man argued that he needed to access the internet to look for work, and to help with work-from-home arrangements.
This was granted by the Magistrate.
QLD
Drone Carrying Drugs Taken Down
A drone carrying an estimated $1 million in drugs has been intercepted trying to fly over the Townsville prison.
Queensland authorities said that the drone was attempted to take drugs, syringes and a mobile phone into the Townsville Correctional Centre in mid-May.
No one has been arrested yet for the incident, and police are currently investigating.
In 2022, a drone found with drugs worth an estimated $250,000 was found flying over the same prison.
A man was later charged with four offences over this incident.
