The process to transfer the management of the privately run 260-bed Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility for women to the Western Australian public sector has begun today.
The prison’s current operator Sodexo and the State Government today signed an agreement to end the prison management contract early. The contract was originally due to finish in 2021.
Sodexo will work with the State Government to ensure the transition of the facility back to public hands by April 4, 2020.
The facility is currently contracted for female remand prisoners as well as for female prisoners who are due for release soon.
The return of Melaleuca to public hands would provide more options for female prisoner management and placement across WA’s female facilities.
The creation of the Australian-first, 80-bed Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison for women last year has also helped to increase the overall capacity of the women’s prison estate.
Also announced today was the continuation of private management for Acacia Prison.
The current operations and maintenance contract with Serco is due to end in the first half of 2021.
The new tender process for management of Acacia is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020 with the release of an invitation for expressions of interest.
As stated by Corrective Services Minister Francis Logan:
“Sodexo will now work with the State Government to ensure an orderly transition of the facility back to public hands by April 4, 2020 ahead of the original contract end in 2021.
“Returning the Melaleuca facility to public hands would provide more options for the management and placement of female prisoners throughout Western Australia’s prison estate.
“As part of the transition, there will be an opportunity for members of the Melaleuca workforce to join the WA public sector.
“Also announced today was that Acacia Prison will remain privately operated after an independent KPMG report showed it was more cost effective to remain privately run.
“The same standards and principles apply to a privately run prison as they do to a public one, so I would expect any new contract manager of Acacia to continue to meet those requirements or they could face severe financial penalties.
“The tender to manage Acacia will be announced in due course.”
