Rachel asked the Minister for Corrections to stop lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. Usually reserved for emergency situations, women in this prison have been frequently kept in states of solitary confinement due to changes in administrative processes and rostering.
Wednesday the 28th of May, 2025
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Corrections, and the action I seek is for lockdowns at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre to immediately cease.
Community legal services and support services have raised concerns on multiple occasions with the department about these lockdowns, which have become increasingly frequent. The facility claims that this is not due to staff shortages, but rather because of a change in administration processes and rostering.
The impact of prison lockdowns and solitary confinement is well understood. It has a negative impact on social and emotional wellbeing and in some instances can be life-threatening. Due to these lockdowns, programs, calls and visits continue to be disrupted, with little to no notice. This includes legal and medical appointments.
In line with the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Yoorrook Justice Commission, solitary confinement in prisons needs to end. Despite these concerns being raised with the relevant secretary and commissioner, as of today there has been no change to the frequency of lockdowns or commitment to reform. So far in the month of May alone, there have been 11 days of reported lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. Compounding these concerns is a disturbing lack of data, including the facility’s own failure to distinguish between a 15-minute and an all-day lockdown. At the moment the most thorough record keeping is not being done by unit staff or the department but by the women being held at the facility.
There is a clear need for truthful and accurate information on:
(1) the frequency and cause of the recent increase in lockdowns in 2025,
(2) strategies and solutions currently in place to address this immediately and in the long term,
(3) the classification of lockdowns as ‘partial’ or ‘full’ as well as factors considered when commencing them,
(4) precautions in place to ensure there is access to culturally safe supports during lockdowns and (5) data and assurances on the provision of services.
There must also be more fulsome and accurate data and evidence that data collection practices will be altered immediately. These practices must capture reasons and decision-making criteria, a list of all units locked down and the number of women impacted in each, including the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and the length of time of each lockdown.
So I ask: will the minister immediately cease lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre?
Response received, 3rd of July 2025:
The safety of both staff and people in custody is paramount when making decisions on if it is necessary to lock down a unit.
Lockdowns at any Correctional facility occur only when necessary and may be for operational reasons such as staff absences, security incidents, or environmental conditions. When they are required, lockdowns occur for the minimum time necessary and can impact discrete accommodation areas, multiple units or the entire prison as required.
During lockdowns at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, women continue to receive all their medication and health appointments are prioritised based on clinical need, including attendance at onsite and offsite medical appointments. Corrections Victoria staff work with Western Health staff to ensure all appointments that need to take place on any given day, do occur.
Lockdowns for adverse weather and security and emergency responses occur across the prison system. For weather lockdowns, women at DPFC are restricted to their areas or precincts and not to their cellular accommodation. Security and emergency lockdowns occur to manage incidents such as medical emergencies or when Ambulance Victoria is on site.
The Hon. Enver Erdogan MLC
Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation
Minister for Corrections
Minister for Youth Justice
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> Evidence-based bail laws – Rachel Payne
> Fund Dandenong’s vital First Nations health services – Rachel Payne
> Establish a family violence taskforce – Rachel Payne
