NSW to End Private Management of Parklea Correctional Centre by 2026

The decision follows criticism of private prison operations and comes as NSW faces record inmate numbers due to stricter bail laws.

The NSW government will transition Parklea Correctional Centre from private to public management by October 2026, ending a 15-year outsourcing arrangement.
Premier Chris Minns cited the need for better rehabilitative services and taxpayer value as key reasons for the decision to de-privatize the facility.
Stricter bail laws targeting domestic violence offenders and repeat youth offenders have increased the prison population by 1,000, straining the state's corrective services.
The move aligns with Labor's broader efforts to reverse prison privatization, with Junee Correctional Centre also set to return to public hands in April 2025.
Critics of private prison management, including unions, argue that profit-driven models fail to prioritize rehabilitation and safety for staff and inmates.