News
3 April, 2026
Tuckerman calls for urgent talks on future of Goulburn Correctional Centre
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has called for urgent talks on the future of the Goulburn Correctional Centre, claiming the impact on staff and the region’s economy will be “significantly greater than initially communicated”.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has called for urgent talks on the future of the Goulburn Correctional Centre, claiming the impact on staff and the region’s economy will be “significantly greater than initially communicated”.
As reported by The Southern Wire, the NSW Government is planning to close four Victorian-era wings at the correctional centre and relocate as many as 170 prisoners to other facilities.
Mrs Tuckerman now understands that as many as 137 jobs will be affected.
In correspondence with the Goulburn MP on March 23, Member for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said no Corrective Services NSW correctional officers would lose their jobs as a result of the closures and no-one would be forced to relocate.
He said all impacted staff would participate in a six-month consultation process for redeployment into equivalent positions within Corrective Services.
The changes will come into effect at the end of September.
The Government has said periods of transition can be “challenging” but it is committed to retaining all staff and supporting people while they navigate these changes.
It said CSNSW and the Minister for Corrections would continue to work with the Public Services Association as these changes are implemented.
It also acknowledged there will ‘incentives’ on offer for those staff who are willing to relocate.
Mrs Tuckerman said she had met with correctional staff at Goulburn and representatives of the Prison Officers Vocational Branch to discuss the impact of the closures.
“These discussions have reinforced the depth of concern within the workforce and throughout the wider Goulburn community about the long-term impacts of this decision,” she said.
“Through these meetings it has become clear that the scale of the impact on Goulburn is significantly greater than initially communicated, with advice now indicating that as many as 137 local positions could be affected.
“While I acknowledge the Government’s position that no officer will be forced to relocate or lose their job, the reality for many families is that the loss of operational capacity will lead to reduced shifts, diminished earning opportunities and increased uncertainty – outcomes that will be felt across the local economy,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
She has requested an urgent meeting with Mr Chanthivong to discuss the future of the Goulburn Correctional Centre in more detail and to allow for “constructive discussion around the concerns raised by staff and the community as well as consideration of alternative options that have been proposed”.
“Goulburn has long supported the State’s correctional system with a skilled and experienced workforce and established infrastructure,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“I firmly believe there remains an opportunity to align modernisation and staff well-being objectives with continued investment in this important regional facility”.
According to the NSW Government, the four wings in question at the Goulburn Correctional Centre were built in 1884 and are no longer considered fit-for-purpose.
It said their age made them difficult to maintain and operate consistently with the requirements of modern correctional environment.
Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW, Gary McCahon, said the Government was
“committed to ensuring our correctional facilities are in the best condition and have the functional capabilities to meet our high operational standards – and part of that is taking some of the state’s oldest beds offline”.
Closures are also being made at the Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre.
“After reviewing prisons around the state, we decided these reforms to our prison infrastructure are necessary to bring the system in-line with our focus on operating safe, secure and humane prisons that provide better working conditions for our officers too,” Mr McCahon said.
Mrs Tuckerman said Goulburn had “powered the State’s correctional system for generations” and deserved a say in decisions about its future.
“The union has said it will not take this decision lying down – and neither should our community,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“There are practical solutions available that protect safety, heritage and jobs. They must be properly examined.”
Read More: Goulburn, Southern Tablelands