OHS problems at Goulburn Courthouse before the Industrial Commission on Monday

Safety of employees at Goulburn Courthouse will be before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on Monday. The matter involves both prison officers and court staff.

In the NSW Industrial Relations Commission hearing to be held at Goulburn Courthouse on Monday 4 August, 2003 at 11.30 am, the Public Service Association will be requesting the assistance of the Industrial Relations Commission to address a number of security and OH&S concerns at Goulburn Courthouse, some of which are regarded as high risk.

The Association wrote to the Attorney-General's Department on 18 December 2002 outlining a number of security and OH&S concerns that required urgent attention and rectification. The Association included a risk assessment undertaken by staff at Goulburn Courthouse together with proposed remedial action

The Attorney-General's Department responded in writing on 20 December, 2002 stating the contents of the letter had been noted and would be attended to as a matter of urgency. To date the Attorney-General's Department has not signified any attempt to ameliorate the 35 security and OH&S risks listed in the Association's letter. This matter has now become critical given the recent threats to the sitting Magistrate and staff at Goulburn Courthouse in relation to the gang rapist case.

The Association understands that on the next working day following the threats, a member of the public was apprehended attempting to enter Yass Courthouse with a knife strapped to his body where the same Magistrate who had been threatened at Goulburn Courthouse was in attendance.

The Association is seeking that permanent perimeter scanning be implemented at Goulburn Courthouse and that the perimeter of the Courthouse be made secure.