Australia's National Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

ISSUE NO. 6

December 2024

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Letters

Differences at NSW and QLD Prisons

By

Belly

Belly writes from Wolston Correctional Centre, in QLD.

Melanie Dijkstra for Unsplash

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To the editor at About Time,

I am writing today to thank you for all the hard work involved in putting together and ‘getting out’ the National Prison Newspaper that I received for the first time here in Queensland.

Just a brief rundown on myself:

I am a 42 years young Koori Man, from Wiradjuri & Tharowel country. I recently transferred from Long Bay Gaol to WCC in Queensland to be close enough for my mother to visit me (ie: compassionate grounds). This process took around two years and I had to provide many support letters and a statement of reasons to the NSW State Board of Sentencing.

I have been around the prison system, in and out since 2001, mostly in NSW.

To compare NSW & QLD prison systems I would first take into account that gaol is gaol and problems are always about the same. But here are some comparisons:

  • NSW has a larger selection of weekly buy-up options
  • QLD food is better
  • NSW monthly buy has a larger selection
  • QLD STP has better options: clippers, electric shavers, Adidas and Asics shoes and digital radios
  • NSW has a parole system that takes into account low risk of re-offending and lack of opportunity to do essential programs
  • QLD will not take into account the low risk of re-offending and the waitlist for programs is not a mitigating factor either

The biggest issue is the lack of transparency and continuous changes in direction.

I think that is enough from me for now!

Belly

To the editor at About Time,

I am writing today to thank you for all the hard work involved in putting together and ‘getting out’ the National Prison Newspaper that I received for the first time here in Queensland.

Just a brief rundown on myself:

I am a 42 years young Koori Man, from Wiradjuri & Tharowel country. I recently transferred from Long Bay Gaol to WCC in Queensland to be close enough for my mother to visit me (ie: compassionate grounds). This process took around two years and I had to provide many support letters and a statement of reasons to the NSW State Board of Sentencing.

I have been around the prison system, in and out since 2001, mostly in NSW.

To compare NSW & QLD prison systems I would first take into account that gaol is gaol and problems are always about the same. But here are some comparisons:

  • NSW has a larger selection of weekly buy-up options
  • QLD food is better
  • NSW monthly buy has a larger selection
  • QLD STP has better options: clippers, electric shavers, Adidas and Asics shoes and digital radios
  • NSW has a parole system that takes into account low risk of re-offending and lack of opportunity to do essential programs
  • QLD will not take into account the low risk of re-offending and the waitlist for programs is not a mitigating factor either

The biggest issue is the lack of transparency and continuous changes in direction.

I think that is enough from me for now!

Belly

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