DPP appeal Bassam Hamzy鈥檚 quashed sentence, which led to statewide prison strikes – 2GB 08/03/2019
8 March 2019
Up to 3000 prison guards from every prison across NSW have joined in on the industrial action after a string of attacks on officers.
Prison guards at the Goulburn Correctional Complex walked off the job Friday morning, calling for an appeal on the case of notorious Supermax prisoner Bassam Hamzy.
Acting Judge Geoffrey Graham overturned his sentence-extension for bashing a guard.
He said the sentence was 鈥渦njust鈥 as Hamzy has already been punished enough by having his prison privileges restricted.
Since the decision, four officers have been attacked in the jail, Australia鈥檚 highest security prison.
Public Service Association General Secretary Stewart Little tells Ben Fordham a recent attack sparked the strike.
鈥淲e had an officer king hit in a cowardly attack and again hospitalised.鈥
He says every prison across NSW is involved in the industrial action.
鈥淓very officer across the state, obviously there are some officers who are commissioned officers, that will remain.鈥
In an emergency meeting, the Industrial Relations Commission have ordered the officers to return to work by 6am tomorrow.