The Community and Public Sector Union has raised concerns about the dangers of outsourcing corrections jobs to private security companies, following the brazen daylight escape of outlaw motorcycle gang member Brandt Graham from private security guards at the Darwin Local Court last Friday morning.
The union says the Northern Territory Government should be investing in public sector employees, instead of outsourcing these roles to expensive labour hire firms.
The CPSU says this prisoner escape – who has subsequently been recaptured – highlights the risks outsourcing public sector jobs has on the safety and wellbeing of the community.
According to NT police, Mr Graham had been "under the custody of G4S" - a private security firm contracted by the NT government to manage prisoner transfers.
Increasing introduction of for-profit providers in the NT Corrections system is a bad idea, says the union who is urging the government to stop spending taxpayer money on expensive firms and instead invest in public sector jobs that deliver important services to the Territory.
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUWAN ADAMSON, CPSU NT REGIONAL SECRETARY:
“The NT Government is handing more work that should be done by fully trained and qualified public sector Correction staff to G4S.
“Companies like G4S exist to make profit first and deliver services second. G4S has a very patchy record in other parts of Australia and around the world.
“Taxpayers have every right to question whether this is the best way forward given it’s their money paying for these expensive private security companies.
“This government should be investing in trusted public service employees to deliver important services for the Territory.”
FOR INFORMATION:
G4S is part of American private security giant Allied Universal, which employs more than 800,000 people internationally and generates about $20 billion in annual revenue.
It recently signed a 6-month contract with the Northern Territory Government to manage the transfer of Darwin prisoners and is tendering for a 5-year contract worth $100million to provide a range of prisoner custody and transport services across the NT including in Darwin and Alice Springs and Katherine.
A 2018 report by the Victorian auditor-general's office which found "serious incidents" at Port Phillip Prison, including assaults and drug use, and "exposed weaknesses in how G4S … manage safety and security risks" highlights the ongoing dangers of outsourcing these crucial jobs to foreign multinationals.
Meanwhile in the UK, G4S was found guilty of fraud after overcharging the Ministry of Justice by tens of millions of pounds for the electronic tagging of offenders, some of whom were deceased.
10 JUNE 2026 / Media contact: PENNI PAPPAS – 0458 895 445