NSW: Cessnock would be crippled by jail sell-off: Council
20 Mar 2009 3:46 PM
A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry's been told the privatisation of a prison will cripple a Hunter Valley town that's already on its knees.
Cessnock councillor GRAHAM SMITH has told the upper house inquiry into the privatisation of prisons the Department of Corrective Services hasn't consulted with the community on plans to privatise its jail.
Mr SMITH says they have no idea how many jobs may be lost or workers transfered elsewhere once Cessnock prison is privatised later this year.
But he says job losses are inevitable as the private owner tries to make a profit and it will have a ripple effect on the community.
Mr SMITH says opposition to the privatisation is unanimous on council .. which is made up of members from both sides of the political divide.
