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Northern Prison


Prison, Man Gripping Bars

Northern Prison and the Power of Protest

Corrections Minister Elise Archer has finally bowed to overwhelming community pressure and announced a new Northern Prison will not be located at Westbury.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  5 May 2022


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Greens Welcome Consultation on Ashley Instead of Westbury Reserve for Northern Prison

While the final decision is yet to be made, Westbury residents who love the Brushy Creek Reserve will today be allowing themselves to breathe a sigh of relief.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Feb 2022


Planning Documents

Greens Welcome AYDC Repurpose Assessment

We welcome the Premier’s confirmation that Ashley Youth Detention Centre is a suitable facility for a therapeutic northern prison. 

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Dec 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Estimates Reply – Attorney-General

It is surprising and welcome news that the Government is looking at the location of the proposed northern prison site.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Sep 2021


Parliament House, Tasmania

Ashley Youth Detention Centre - Future Use of Site

In three years' time, Ashley will finally close its doors as a place of abuse and sadness for young people.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  14 Sep 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Corrections - Westbury Prison Proposal

I'd like to ask you about the proposed Westbury prison and explore what your agency's recent engagement with the Commonwealth has been.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  8 Sep 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Premier - Westbury Prison Site

The Westbury Prison site in a nature reserve, is hugely problematic.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  6 Sep 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Corrections' Estimates Confirms Government Working to Get Around Westbury Reserve Protections

Corrections Minister, Elise Archer, confirmed the government is seeking to find an ‘offset’ for the Westbury Reserve in order to build a prison on the site.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  8 Sep 2021


Justice, Scales and Gavel

Minister Archer Hides From Westbury Residents

Elise Archer should show Westbury region residents the respect they deserve by attending tonight’s public meeting about the proposed new northern prison

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Aug 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Jaensch Must Protect Westbury Reserve from Illegal Woodhooking

Reports of illegal woodhooking of live trees on Westbury Reserve are extremely concerning.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  19 Jul 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Northern Regional Prison - Geotechnical Drilling at the Brushy Rivulet Site

The Minister repeatedly denied the presence of threatened values on this site until the Premier last week confirmed they do exist.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  29 Jun 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Northern Regional Prison - Geotechnical Drilling of Site

New right to information documents show the federal government has been demanding Tasmania give legal conservation protection to the reserve.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Jun 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Premier Finally Recognises Conservation Values of Westbury Reserve

After a year of denying Westbury Reserve has any environmental values, it was welcome to hear Premier finally recognise the site has “sensitive natural values”.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  24 Jun 2021


Planning Documents

RTI Confirms Westbury Reserve Threatened Species Haven, Wrong Site for Prison

Documents released under Right to Information clearly outline why the Westbury Reserve is an entirely inappropriate location to build a prison

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  17 Jun 2021


Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Greens Table Petition to Stop Northern Prison

The Greens were proud to table a petition on behalf of the Westbury community, calling on the Government to halt its plans for the northern prison.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Mar 2021


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Corrections – Westbury Prison

The misguided and badly evidenced push to create a maximum security prison in Westbury is causing many local residents extreme anxiety.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2020


Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Threatened Species at Westbury Reserve Should be Protected

The Liberals’ hastily-made decision to move the northern prison site has resulted in selection of an ill-advised location, fraught with unresolvable issues.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  20 Oct 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Community Forced to Step In to Protect Westbury Reserve

The reprieve for Westbury Reserve, set to be drilled today, is welcome - but only temporary. 

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  19 Oct 2020


Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Jaensch Abandons Westbury Wedge-tailed Eagles

Minister Jaensch refused to answer serious questions about what, if any, assessment on the impact on eagles – or any other species – had been undertaken.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  15 Oct 2020


Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Wedge-Tailed Eagles - Westbury Reserve Site

Noise disturbance during breeding is well known to result in eagles abandoning eggs or even chicks and can drive them to leave a nest permanently.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  15 Oct 2020


Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Jaensch Must Stop Westbury Drilling, Risk to Threatened Eagles

The exploratory drilling set to commence next week at the Westbury Reserve is within range of a Wedge-tailed eagle nest, during breeding season.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Oct 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Northern Region Prison - Location

The northern prison is going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars but the decision for the site has been mired in secrecy.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  26 Aug 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Northern Prison - Location

The Government has mishandled the decision-making process around the choice of the northern prison from the very beginning.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Aug 2020


Economy, Finance, Calculator, Pen and Graph

COVID-19 - Jobs and the Economy

We cannot support a motion that has clause (4) in it, which is that the House supports the Westbury prison site that has been chosen on Birralee Road.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  19 Aug 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Liberals’ Westbury Spin Comes Undone

Today in Parliament, the Government confirmed its decision to pursue the second site for the northern prison was made in a rush.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Aug 2020


Prison, Man Gripping Bars

Objection to Westbury Prison Site

The Westbury residents are clear that the Government has caved in to their community's strong backlash on the preferred site for the northern prison.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Jun 2020


Planning Documents

Northern Region Prison Location

The Westbury reserve did not even make it on to the Government's list of initial sites.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Jun 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Westbury Prison Site Location

We would like to understand why the Government chose a 70-hectare reserve with high conservation values as the new new northern prison site.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Jun 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Westbury Residents Sold Out With "Benefits" Study

The Liberals continue to grubby their northern prison planning process with secrecy and bad faith community consultation.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Jun 2020


Westbury Informal Reserve, Site of Proposed Northern Prison, Westbury, Tasmania

Proposal for Prison at Westbury

Let us put on the record that we have had this conversation a number of times about the northern prison.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  30 Oct 2019


Prison, Man Gripping Bars

Northern Prison

It is sad to hear the tone of this debate, which totally misses the point that what is good for Tasmania is putting money into restorative justice.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  29 Oct 2019


Prison, Man Gripping Bars

Northern Region Prison Site

I have been approached by numerous people in the surrounding area with concerns about the consultation process.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Oct 2019


Drugs

Community Safety

What we are really talking about here is two parties that support the building of a massive investment in prison infrastructure in the north.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Sep 2019