TAS: Industrial action forces prison into lock down

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
TAS: Industrial action forces prison into lock down

The Tasmanian prison holding Australia's worst mass murderer has been forced into lock-down
by industrial action.

Around 110 staff at Risdon Prison .. near Hobart .. are refusing to unlock inmates'
cells .. which has forced the cancellation of all visits to the jail.

Tasmania's Director of Prisons .. GRAEME BARBER .. says unions have agreed the inmates
will receive meals and medication as usual.

He says court appearances may also be affected by the work bans .. however prison service
managers are trying to set up video link appearances.

The prison workers' union says the action's being taken over the removal of a tactical
response group from the prison .. and the state government's refusal to trial 12-hour
shifts in medium security.

The matter will go before the Tasmanian Industrial Commission later this afternoon.







Mass murderer MARTIN BRYANT is serving 35 life sentences at the jail for shooting dead
35 people at Port Arthur in 1996.

AAP RTV grc/rt/bart

KEYWORD: RISDON (HOBART)

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