Rachel’s constituent of was just one of many women who have suffered under frequent prison lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. She reported missing important appointments as a result, including housing and support appointments, necessary for successful community reintegration.
After having previously advocated on this issue numerous times, Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections what meaningful measures besides staff recruitment are being implemented to stop recurring lockdowns.
Thursday the 18th of June 2026,
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
My constituency question is for the Minister for Corrections.
My constituent from Rowville was recently paroled from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. She has kept a record of lockdowns at the centre from 2024 to 2025.
According to this record, one unit was locked down on 21 separate occasions in July of last year. My constituent reports missing important appointments and family phone calls due to these lockdowns and described conditions as a prison within a prison.
These descriptions do not end at the prison gate. Many women released from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre return to communities across the south-east where access to health care, housing and family support are critical to successful reintegration and reducing recidivism.
So my constituent asks: beyond staff recruitment, what specific measures will the government implement to reduce lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and ensure prisoners can access medical, housing and rehabilitation services in the south-east?
