Council
18 June, 2026
Dillon, Flint vow to hold Minister to account
Goulburn-Mulwaree mayor Nina Dillon and deputy mayor Caitlin Flint have both vowed to be sitting in the public gallery at NSW Parliament when it comes time for Minister for Corrective Services Anoulack Chanthivong to answer questions on the future of the Goulburn Correctional Centre.
Goulburn-Mulwaree mayor Nina Dillon and deputy mayor Caitlin Flint have both vowed to be sitting in the public gallery at NSW Parliament when it comes time for Minister for Corrective Services Anoulack Chanthivong to answer questions on the future of the Goulburn Correctional Centre.
That day they hope is drawing rapidly closer.
More than 15,000 people have now signed a petition opposing the closure of four Victorian-era wings at the correctional facility.
Less than 5000 more signatures are needed for it to be discussed in Parliament.
Council on tuesday night vowed to continue to fight the proposal, scheduled to take effect in September this year.
It voted unanimously to continue to “strongly advocate to the NSW Government for an immediate halt to the proposed closure of parts of the Goulburn Correctional Centre … highlighting the significant economic, employment and social impacts the proposal would have on the Goulburn community and surrounding region”.
The advocacy will include requests for meetings with NSW Premier Chris Minns and other NSW Government ministers and officials “to seek a transparent, evidence-based review of the proposal, ensure meaningful consultation with affected stakeholders and explore long-term alternatives that retain correctional operations, protect local jobs and preserve the historical significance of the site”.
Cr Flint said she had been “disgusted” by the response from Mr Chanthivong to a letter from Mayor Nina Dillon seeking more information on the reasons for the closure.
She said the Minister’s letter had contained “nothing meaningful”.
Two people addressed council on the issue at last Tuesday’s public forum including union representative Leanne Holmes who thanked council, the community and Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman for their continued support.
“It’s quite a process that we’ve been going through and it’s good to know that we’ve got your support,” she said.
She said there had been a lack of consultation in relation to the proposed closure and correctional officers were now pinning their hopes on a conciliation process ordered by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) following recent strike action.
She said the union representing correctional services staff had at least three proposals that would future-proof the gaol, help retain jobs in the Goulburn region and save the NSW Government millions of dollars.
One of those proposals included turning the Goulburn Correctional Centre into a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the rehabilitation of domestic violence offenders.
Mrs Holmes told council that staff at the Goulburn facility were “tired of the narrative” that there would be no job losses as a result of the closure.
She said 40 casuals had already been advised to put their names down at other centres as there would be no additional shifts available at Goulburn once the four maximum-security wings are closed and the inmates moved elsewhere.
New casuals are being informed there will be no permanent positions unless they move to Junee or Wellington and many others – including contractors and staff members on temporary appointments – face unemployment.
Mr Chanthivong downplayed any potential job losses in his letter to Cr Dillon.
“The proposed reduction in positions at Goulburn Correctional Centre represents less than one per cent (0.75 per cent) of the total local jobs and 0.69 per cent of the employed residents in Goulburn,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“Any impacts on local businesses and providers due to reduced inmate numbers and any staff relocations are expected to be minimal.”
Mrs Holmes said the NSW Government would hopefully show a genuine interest in other options for the site.
“Hopefully the decision-makers will realise the impact it will have on the future of our community.”
Correctional officer Corey Newman said the level of support from the Goulburn community had been amazing.
He said what had started as a fight for corrective services staff and their families had now “grown into something much bigger”.
As previously reported by The Southern Wire, the four Victorian-era wings housing maximum security inmates have been earmarked for closure because they are no longer considered fit-for-use.
That would leave only the High Risk Management Correctional Centre (often referred to ‘Supermax’) and the minimum-security area Goulburn in operation.
The potential impact on the regional economy has been estimated at anywhere between $10 million and $30 million a year.
Hundreds of people attended a rally in Goulburn’s Belmore Park at the end of April to protest the planned closure.
Union officials have vowed to stage a second, larger rally – pending the outcome of mediation talks before the IRC.
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