‘Sad day’: ‘Millions’ ripped out of Junee as state takes over prison

AFTER more than 30 years of private management, Junee Correctional Centre is now under government control.

Corrective Services NSW officially took over the 1,270-bed facility from US-based GEO Group at 6pm on Monday, March 31. GEO has operated the prison since its opening in 1993.

The transition marks a significant shift, but for many in Junee, it is a devastating blow—one that strips millions of dollars from the local economy and leaves uncertainty in its wake.

For decades, GEO Group injected millions into Junee through partnerships with local businesses, charities, sporting clubs, and educational initiatives, including school scholarship programs. But with the state government now in control, that financial support has come to an abrupt end.

Steph Cooke, Member for Cootamundra, expressed her frustration at the decision.

“On April Fools’ Day, it’s the people of Junee who are the punchline. This is no joke,” Ms Cooke told 7 News Riverina.

“This is a very sad day for the Junee community. We’re set to lose millions and millions of dollars locally. Today, NSW taxpayers go from paying $50 million annually to run this facility to $75 million a year—forever.”

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Local business owner Donna Willis, who has supplied the prison with art materials for 15 years, said she has already felt the impact.

“I received a letter stating that I won’t be getting any business from them anymore,” she said. “It’s a sad day for Junee businesses.”

Junee Shire Mayor Bob Callow said uncertainty remained over how the loss of GEO’s contributions would affect the broader community, particularly the community service work regularly undertaken by minimum-security prisoners.

“From the very outset, the community has sort of been left in the dark,” Cr Callow told ABC News.

“I think the biggest concern for everybody here is going to be the loss of a very, very good business partner.”

While the NSW government will no longer provide direct cash sponsorships as GEO did, it has confirmed continued support for the town’s Meals on Wheels program and says it is exploring alternative ways to assist the community.

In a written statement to ABC News, NSW Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the transition was about focusing on making the community safe, not profits.

He noted that “most” GEO-employed staff had accepted positions with Corrective Services NSW, ensuring that staffing levels remain sufficient to run the facility, which is Junee’s largest employer.

Corrective Services NSW plans to increase the prison’s inmate population further and is actively recruiting more staff.

David Bartle, an industrial manager with the Public Service Association which represents prison employees, echoed the minister’s comments, telling the ABC the move would boost staffing levels and improve working conditions.

“We also believe running prisons for profit is not a morally correct position to have,” Mr Bartle said.

With the transition now complete, only two of NSW’s 36 correctional centres remain privately operated.

The next facility slated to return to public management is Sydney’s Parklea Correctional Centre, scheduled for October 2026.