NSW: Disgruntled officers behind commissioner witch-hunt - Amery

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NSW: Disgruntled officers behind commissioner witch-hunt - Amery

By Linda Silmalis

SYDNEY, April 12 AAP - Disgruntled prison officers were behind a "witch-hunt" aimedat discrediting the state's new prisons boss, a NSW parliamentary inquiry was told today.

NSW Corrective Services Minister Richard Amery made the claim in his opening addressto the Upper House inquiry into appointments within the corrective services department.

The inquiry was called following the appointment of Corrective Services CommissionerRon Woodham to the top job in January.

The state opposition claimed it had evidence from prison officials of "rampant nepotismand cronyism" within the department relating to senior appointments.

Mr Woodham was appointed following the resignation of Leo Keliher in November last year.

He is the first prison officer to have risen through the ranks of the department tothe position of commissioner.

But Mr Amery said the allegations surrounding senior appointments were a "storm in a tea cup".

"I suppose the corrective services department, like every organisation, has a numberof disgruntled employees," Mr Amery told the inquiry.

"They apply for positions over the years and don't get them and of course, after thedecision is made not to get a position, then of course they start attacking the process.

"This is all about attacking our new commissioner ... we've got a multi-point witch-huntgoing on here."

Mr Amery singled out one officer who had made a complaint against Mr Woodham afterbeing overlooked for the job of governor at a prison.

Mr Woodham had been on the selection panel at the time.

The complaint was referred by the department's inspector-general to the IndependentCommission Against Corruption (ICAC) which chose not to investigate, Mr Amery said.

He said he was aware of the allegations and investigations Mr Woodham had been thesubject of prior to endorsing his appointment.

There was subsequently "unanimous" support in Cabinet, he said.

Mr Woodham's qualities had been recognised by the previous Coalition government whohad earlier appointed him as an assistant commissioner, Mr Amery said.

State opposition corrective services spokesman Michael Richardson said he had evidencefrom prison officers of questionable appointments occurring within the department underMr Woodham.

"The allegation is that there is nepotism and cronyism ... that is rife throughoutthe department of corrective services," he said.

"The system of merit appointment - it has been disregarded."

Mr Richardson read out a letter from a prison officer which stated: "It is common knowledgeamong senior staff about the jobs for the boys attitude within this department."

Mr Woodham obtained an Apprehended Violence Order against one of his own officers inMay 2000 when he was an assistant commissioner.

AAP ls/nf/mg/bwl

KEYWORD: PRISONS