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South Australia’s prison system was placed into a full lockdown on Monday after correctional staff launched a 24-hour stop-work action, following a violent altercation at Yatala Labour Prison that left one inmate with severe facial injuries.
According to the Public Service Association (PSA), the latest incident — one of several violent episodes reported in recent months — pushed prison officers to call an urgent statewide meeting, after which members voted to halt work for 24 hours.
Charlotte Watson, General Secretary of the PSA, said the prisoner-on-prisoner assault acted as “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” with staff raising long-standing concerns about safety and inadequate pay.
As a result of the stoppage, prisoners across the state are being confined to their cells, with senior Department for Correctional Services (DCS) managers stepping in to deliver essential services such as meal distribution.
The DCS confirmed the lockdown but clarified that the industrial action was planned prior to Sunday’s alleged assault. The state government continues negotiating with the PSA as part of ongoing enterprise bargaining discussions.
The violent incident occurred in Yatala’s B-division, where one inmate was allegedly attacked by another before two additional prisoners joined in. SA Police is investigating, though no charges have yet been laid.
The PSA emphasised that the latest attack highlights the urgent need for improved safety conditions, arguing that officers’ welfare is directly tied to fair compensation.
“They feel they have no other choice,” Watson said. “Staff have been calling for support and better pay for a long time.”
