The prolific sexual abuse of inmates perpetrated by a former NSW prison officer and allegedly covered up by colleagues and dismissed by management will be the subject of an independent inquiry.
Wayne Astill was sentenced in March to a maximum 23 years jail for the rape and indecent assault of nine women while working at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney’s west.
The 67-year-old will spend at least 15 years and four months behind bars for abusing his position of authority to commit offences over several years until his suspension in 2019.
The NSW government has ordered an inquiry after allegations his crimes were concealed by other staff and dismissed by high-ranking managers, allowing the abuse to continue.
A senior former judge will lead the investigation and report to Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong.
AAP understands the inquiry will examine whether Corrective Services employees or prison management had knowledge or reasonable suspicion of Astill’s offending, whether any steps were taken and whether adequate supervisory systems and oversight were in place.
Mr Chanthivong said he was shocked and appalled by the circumstances surrounding the crimes and allegations of cover-up.
“The response to date hasn’t been adequate and I’m deeply troubled," he told AAP.
"We’ve got to move quickly but we’re also working carefully in designing this review."
The minister said he would have more to say on the process over the coming days.
Corrective Services NSW said it was unable to comment as matters involving Astill were still subject to police investigation but welcomed any inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his offending.
"The conduct for which this former officer has been convicted (is) completely and utterly deplorable," a spokeswoman said.
Since Astill's conviction, dozens of women have come forward with fresh abuse allegations.
Some have reportedly sued the department and had their cases settled with confidential payments.
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson welcomed the inquiry but said it would only scratch the surface in revealing "entrenched and systemic failures" within the corrections system.
"The conditions in NSW prisons are abhorrent across the state; it is these conditions that are leading to systemic failures, human rights abuses and criminal conduct perpetrated against some of the most vulnerable people in our society," she said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We need an inquiry that examines what’s going wrong across the entire prison system and how we can do better."
"The culture that allowed what happened at Dillwynia is a culture I suspect not limited to one prison."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
