Shadow corrections minister takes state Labor government to task over ‘knee-jerk’ ghost prison

The shadow corrections minister, Brad Battin, has reacted to the news a staffed prison in the State’s south west has been sitting empty.

He says the prison is an eyesore and was the result of the then-Andrews government reacting rashly to the 2018 bail law changes.

“What we’ve seen since then, is so many people tied up in court that the number of actual prisoners going into prisons has declined,” he told Jacqui Felgate.

Press PLAY to hear his take on the ghost prison

Mr Battin also revealed the opposition has repeatedly asked the relevant minister for information on the prison.

“This minister refuses to release anything, including when we’ve put in Freedom of Information requests … we have to end up in VCAT to try and get an answer,” he said.

A Victorian government spokesperson told 3AW Drive the facility is currently used to support corrections officer training.

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Image: Community Safety Building Authority.