News
3 July, 2026
Tuckerman hits back at ‘false’ claims re gaol closure leak
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has hit back at claims she left a NSW Government briefing earlier this year in relation to the closure of the Goulburn Correctional Centre and informed staff of the closure before anyone else had a chance to do so.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has hit back at claims she left a NSW Government briefing earlier this year in relation to the closure of the Goulburn Correctional Centre and informed staff of the closure before anyone else had a chance to do so.
The MP has labelled the claims as false and has moved to have the Parliamentary record corrected.
The claims were raised by Labor MLC Penny Sharpe last month as the Opposition moved to have documents relating to the controversial closure of four maximum-security wings at the facility made available.
Ms Sharpe said the Government wouldn’t oppose the Order for Papers to make the documents available – but said she would like to comment on the Member for Goulburn’s behaviour in relation to the issue.
She said the Government had issues with the way Mrs Tuckerman had managed the issue – particularly in relation to staff – and her decision to inform staff of the closure before the closure had been officially announced had resulted in a “huge degree of speculation” and had been “unhelpful”.
Mrs Tuckerman said the claim was simply untrue and said she had never ‘leaked’ information to staff about the planned closure before they were officially informed.
“I have now placed on the record in Parliament that I was not briefed in any form by the Government prior to staff finding out,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“Mind you a diligent Government and Minister should have briefed the local MP and consulted before making any decision.
“The statement made by the Minister must be corrected. Whether the Minister’s office provided incorrect information or the Leader of the Upper House was misled, the end result is the same – the House was given inaccurate information and that cannot stand.
“My focus remains exactly where it should be: on my community and on transparency around the Labor Government’s decisions that impact local families and their families.
“Accountability matters and the record needs to be set straight.”
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