The report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Wayne Astill has been released.
At over 800 pages the report gives a chilling assessment of Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and its conduct.
The focus was on how one prison officer, Wayne Astill, was able to sexually abuse a large number of female prisoners in a prison without intervention by his peers or management. For over five years.
Astill was convicted and is serving 23 years in another gaol. But how did he get away with the abuse?
Commissioner Peter McClellan AM KC describes many elements of the system in CSNSW as not fit for purpose.
The Commissioner makes 31 recommendations that are a combination of systemic, legislative and practical changes.
Chief amongst those is an ongoing taskforce reporting directly to the Secretary of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
McClellan also recommends a series of wide ranging continuous audits, one of the recommendations made in a submission by Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers for our client.
It is now for Government to respond to the report.
Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers have a long history of appearances before Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry. We represent individuals and organisations.