Tasmania spent $3m on prison probes with zero dismissals
Tasmania spent about $3 million investigating 10 prison officers over two years. Not one was fired.
Tasmania's Department of Justice spent about $3 million investigating 10 prison officers over two years. Nothing came of it but minor punishments.
Each investigation should have taken 12 weeks. They averaged 18 months to two years.
The delays were costly. Full officer salaries continued.
Overtime surged to cover empty shifts. External investigators ran up large bills.
Most staff received only minor punishments. Some were punished even though investigations found no wrongdoing.
Email shows human resources staff chased investigators for reports for seven months. One external investigator missed multiple deadlines, citing high workload, COVID and viral laryngitis.
Franklin independent MHA David O'Byrne raised the issue in Parliament. He questioned how the government justifies this spending during a budget crisis.
- $3 million
- Total investigation cost
- 10
- Officers investigated
- 12 weeks
- Target investigation time
- 18 months to 2 years
- Actual average time
Why it mattersSlow investigations drain government budgets. They leave systemic problems unresolved.
AustraliaTasmanian taxpayers fund investigations that cost millions yet produce no accountability, highlighting process failure in state corrections.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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