Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Gippsland Portal Local News

Assurances on replacement prison for Won Wron needed now

GLGN Chairperson has called on the State Government to provide a clear indication that the replacement for Won Wron Prison will be built in the Yarram area

By Latrobe City Council - 21st May 2001 - Back to News

GLGN Chairperson, Councillor Tony Hanning, has called on the State Government to provide a clear indication to the Gippsland community that the replacement for Won Wron Prison will be built in the Yarram area, and that it will be built and run by the State.

Cr Hanning said the disclosure in the State Budget that the minimum security prison farm at Won Wron would be closed, together with the Bendigo prison, was another blow to the Gippsland community.

"A closure of this magnitude has a significantly detrimental financial impact on the surrounding community. Forty jobs will be lost at Won Wron, together with more than 2million dollars per year spent with local businesses. However, there are other impacts that have a negative effect on surrounding communities, which are easy for governments to overlook.

"Prisoners at Won Wron make a significant contribution to the region, particularly within Wellington Shire, where enormous work has been done in plantations, National Parks and on projects that benefit the local community such as lawn mowing and maintenance of local halls," Cr Hanning said.

"The citizens of the Latrobe Valley can provide a first hand account of how much that sort of contribution is missed as a consequence of the Morwell River Prison Farm being closed in the 1990’s. It was not just the loss of employment by prison staff and the fact that the salaries normally spent in the local communities were lost, but the prisoners themselves contributed to the community with the work they undertook on projects throughout the region. All that was lost," Cr Hanning said.

"The Budget announcement of the closure of the rural prisons without any disclosure indicating where the two new facilities will be built, obviously causes a great deal of worry and concern to those currently employed at Won Wron, and the surrounding community. It is essential that the State Government quickly makes its intentions clear and gives an undertaking that the new facilities will be established in the areas where the closures are taking place, and that at least one of the two facilities is built in Gippsland. It should of course preferably be located in the Yarram area to compensate the local community for the dramatic impact on their local economy of the Won Wron closure.

"A number of our prison facilities have ageing infrastructure which it is conceded, are difficult to maintain and modernise. While the closure of Won Wron seems derogatory for Gippsland, provided it is being replaced in the same area in the same timeframe with one of the new facilities, and there is no loss of jobs, there may be benefits for Gippsland. But we must have a government assurance on this," Cr Hanning said.

"It is particularly vital that the State Government builds and operates the new facilities. The experiment with the privatisation of prisons, hospitals, power utilities and public transport by the Kennett Government is now a proven disaster. Far from benefiting the community, privatisation destroyed regional employment and caused extensive damage to the economy of Gippsland.

"This Government must ensure that the privatisation madness is not only halted, but reversed. Prisons must be the responsibility of the State Government and directly administered by them. The State Government itself must provide leadership and take responsibility for the day to day administration of prison services," Cr Hanning said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

• David Littleproud says farmers won major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds
  Nationals Leader David Littleproud says farmers have won a major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds.
• Danny O'Brien slams Labor for decade-long failure to fund replacement CFA stations in Foster and Mirboo North
  Danny O'Brien has criticised Labor for failing to replace outdated Foster and Mirboo North CFA stations, saying volunteers face unsafe conditions despite years of promises and growing community contributions.
• Martin Cameron demands Labor guarantee Traralgon PSOs won’t be removed amid redeployment to retail precincts
  Martin Cameron has urged the Allan Labor Government to guarantee PSOs won’t be removed from Traralgon, warning redeployment to shopping centres could compromise safety on the region’s already under-resourced rail network.
• Melina Bath demands Allan government release clear construction timeline for Wonthaggi Hospital redevelopment stages
  Melina Bath demands the Allan government release a clear construction timeline for Wonthaggi Hospital Stages 2 and 3, warning delays leave healthcare workers overburdened and residents facing escalating patient demand.
• Kay Abude appointed lead artist for Women's Public Art Program in Wonthaggi honouring Miners’ Women’s Auxiliary
  Contemporary artist Kay Abude has been appointed to create a major Wonthaggi public artwork honouring the Miners’ Women’s Auxiliary, with community workshops and Victorian government support celebrating local history.
• Register now for the 2025 Garage Sale Trail and join Australia's biggest secondhand treasure hunt this November
  Registrations are open for the Garage Sale Trail this November - host a sale, declutter, earn cash, or find amazing secondhand bargains.
• Regional all abilities participation grants is now open to boost inclusive sports opportunities for people with disability in regional communities
  The Allan Labor government's Regional All Abilities Participation Grants offer up to $25,000 for clubs to boost disability inclusion through equipment, training, travel support, and all-abilities sports programs.
• Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving, preventing East Gippsland ratepayers covering government shortfalls
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving Victoria, warning councils face doubled contributions while new Emergency Services levy strains East Gippsland and Wellington budgets.
• Peri Urban Councils urge state government to invest in infrastructure and support housing growth across regions
  Peri Urban Councils Victoria is urging government investment in infrastructure after a new report recommended 40% of new homes be built in regional Australia, highlighting housing demand, high costs, and infrastructure pressures.
• Second round of South Gippsland community grants now open, with drop-in support sessions in various dates and locations
  South Gippsland Shire Council’s second round of community grants is open until 31 March 2026, with seven drop-in sessions available to assist local clubs and groups with applications.
• Second round of South Gippsland community grants now open, with drop-in support sessions in various dates and locations
  South Gippsland Shire Council’s second round of community grants is open until 31 March 2026, with seven drop-in sessions available to assist local clubs and groups with applications.
• Labor government delivers $2.73M Sale Hospital upgrade, modernising Community Services building for Gippsland healthcare staff
  The Allan Labor government is delivering a $2.73 million upgrade to Sale Hospital's historic Community Services Building, modernising facilities for healthcare workers, patients, and students through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.