ACT prison officers union offers compromise on needle exchange proposal
Plans to introduce a needle exchange program at Canberra's jail appear to have moved a step closer.
The union representing corrections officers has offered an olive branch to the ACT Government to break the deadlock over the controversial program.
The Government has previously said it wants to introduce a needle and syringe program at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) to stop the spread of bloodborne viruses.
But a clause in the prison guards workplace agreement has prevented it going ahead without consultation and agreement from unions.
The CPSU argued prison officers feared the introduction of a formal needle exchange program would put staff and other prisoners at risk.
CPSU spokesman Vince McDevitt said the clause could be removed if it were replaced with a new clause that only requires the support of a majority of staff.
"This is a really significant compromise," he said.
"This really does pave the way for the Government to have a fair dinkum conversation with their workers about their proposals.
"The Government would need to convince 50 per cent plus one of people who work in the prison before they could implement a needle and syringe program."
The union says the issue needs to be resolved so workers can get the thousands of dollars in back pay they are owed.
Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury said he will look closely at what is being proposed.
"I will send a reply to this proposal within the next few days," he said.
Prison guards have voted to take industrial action if a settlement can not be reached on pay and conditions.
