NSW to add nearly 1,000 prison beds to cope with remand surge
NSW is spending $47.1m to add 1,000 prison beds by early 2027 amid record remand numbers.
The Minns government announced Monday it will reopen part of Silverwater jail to add nearly 1,000 prison beds across NSW by early 2027. The restart of the Dawn de Loas correctional centre will cost $47.1 million.
It will add 515 beds. More than 360 beds will be fast-tracked at Parklea.
The expansion responds to a serious problem: record numbers of prisoners awaiting trial. There are 6,398 people now in remand.
They make up 46% of NSW's adult prison population. New bail laws now require alleged offenders to show cause for release.
Premier Chris Minns said this was a necessary decision for public safety. However, the prison officers' union warned the state cannot 'just arrest our way out of domestic violence'.
The union called for more funding for rehabilitation and victim services.
- $47.1 million
- Spending commitment
- Nearly 1,000 beds total
- New bed capacity
- Early 2027
- Opening timeline
Why it mattersPrison capacity is now a bottleneck in NSW's justice system. More beds help with immediate pressure. But the union says treatment and prevention matter more.
AustraliaNSW families affected by domestic violence will see faster court processing as jail space eases, though critics argue without better support services the expansion alone won't prevent reoffending.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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