News
14 October, 2026
Gaol petition to be tabled in parliament
A petition calling on the NSW Government to keep the Goulburn Correctional Centre fully operational will be tabled in Parliament on Thursday (October 15).
A petition calling on the NSW Government to keep the Goulburn Correctional Centre fully operational will be tabled in Parliament on Thursday (October 15).
The petition – signed by more than 20,000 people – will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly at approximately 4pm by Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, enabling the issue to be debated.
A number of Goulburn-Mulwaree Council representatives will be travelling to Sydney for the debate including mayor Nina Dillon, Deputy mayor Caitlin Flint and councillors Keith Smith, Michael Prevedello and Bob Kirk.
Cr Dillon said “many other” local residents would also be travelling to Parliament House for the debate and advised them to arrive by 3pm to clear security and to be seated in the public gallery.
For those people unable to make the trip to Sydney, the debate will be livestreamed on www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
As reported by The Southern Wire, the NSW Government announced in March this year that it would be closing all four Victorian-era wings at the facility and moving all maximum security prisoners elsewhere.
At the time Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said there would be a six-month consultation process with impacted staff but at no stage indicated the decision would be open for reconsideration.
He advised Cr Dillon at a meeting in July that the Government’s decision was final.
Goulburn residents have questioned the Government’s failure to consult with the community at any stage given the significant impact the decision will have on the region.
Mr Chanthivong said the closure was part of a reform process “that focuses on housing inmates in areas that meet modern requirements and support the safety and well-being of staff and inmates”.
Maximum security prisoners have already been relocated.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has always contended that the old wings should be refurbished or replaced to “maintain system capacity and demonstrate genuine commitment to regional NSW”.
Minister Chanthivong has downplayed the impact of the closure on the regional economy and has said the correctional centre would remain an important part of the state’s correctional system.
He said the security wings would remain open – as would the High Risk Management Centre (SuperMax), which is also located on the site and houses some of the state’s most dangerous prisoners.
Cr Dillon has previously accused the NSW Government of refusing to consider alternatives or “evidence-based analysis of this irrational decision”.
She said it was wrong for the Government to proceed with the closure before the matter had been debated in Parliament.
The NSW Opposition said the site should be expanded and suitable inmates transferred from Long Bay to Goulburn.
Shadow Minister for Corrections Anthony Roberts said the site should be “strengthened for the future, not diminished”.
“The SuperMax stays. That is non-negotiable,” Mr Roberts said earlier this year.
“At the same time, this site should expand its minimum-security capacity, refurbish education and vocational facilities, grow Corrective Services industries and better prepare suitable inmates for life after custody through real work, real skills and real discipline.”
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