Australian Left Review

Article Title

The Prison Sell

Authors

David Brown

Abstract

Private prisons are on the agenda, and David Brown is. perturbed. An ideological 'public/private' tussle over prisons is the last thing the prison debate needs.

Woken by the phone at 6 am. ABC radio: any comment on the NSW government proposals to invite private tenders to build and run a new jail at Junee in NSW? Blearily rehearse the familiar litany of arguments against private prisons. "Penality sole province of the state...dangers of the development of a penal-industrial complex...potential conflicts of interest... less accountable...cost cutting and undermining of union conditions."