ABC told exchange programs pose an unacceptable risk to staff.
PSA CPSU NSW General Secretary Stewart Little defended Prison Officers nationwide against a plan to operate needle-exchange schemes in the country’s gaols.
Mr Little said proposals, the most recent coming from the University of Queensland, should not proceed, would be met by waves of industrial action.
Speaking on the ABC as Federal Secretary of the CPSU SPSF, which represents most of Australia’s Prison Officers, he said unions are “unequivocally” opposed needle and syringe programs in gaols.
“We have seen an Officer in NSW killed by a needle containing HIV-infected blood,” said Mr Little. “We will not let our Officers be placed at such risk.”
The Officer, Geoffrey Pearce, died in 1997, seven years after being stabbed by an infected syringe. The Outer Metropolitan Multi-Purpose Correctional Centre near Windsor now bears his name.
No state or territory government operates a needle-exchange program in their prison system.
The Public Service Association of NSW and Community and Public Sector Union (SPSF Group) NSW Branch acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work and the places in which we live. We pay respect to Ancestors and Elders, past, present and future. We recognise the unique cultural and spiritual relationship and celebrate the contributions of first nations peoples to Australia.