Rapist officer inquiry sparks prison mandates, CCTV

Failures that allowed unconscionable crimes to occur inside the NSW prison system and meant staff who tried to speak up were silenced will be addressed with a suite of measures.

Former corrections officer Wayne Astill was jailed for 23 years in 2023 after abusing nine women while working as an officer at the Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney's west.

A subsequent inquiry highlighted multiple failures within the state's prison system, including missed red flags that should have stopped Astill ever being employed as a corrections officer.

All recommendations from the inquiry, which delivered its findings in March, would be accepted in full or in principle, the state government said on Friday.

With funding from a $30 million package, all prisons will be required to store CCTV footage for three months, Dillwynia will get more coverage and uniformed prison staff there have been told to wear body-worn cameras.

All new staff working in women's prisons will also have to undergo mandatory training concerning female inmates.

Legal changes will also mandate reporting of misconduct and reduce barriers to prosecute staff in inappropriate relationships with inmates.

Inmates and staff also have more ways to raise issues, while Astill's victims have access to trauma counselling.

Astill's crimes and the problems revealed in the subsequent inquiry were "deplorable and inexcusable", the government said.

Some matters pointing to serious problems had been detailed in reports and reviews over the prior decade but were ignored.

"The Astill inquiry found that our prison system had not met the expectations of the community, the NSW government, or the majority of its 10,000 staff," Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said.

“These reforms will help keep inmates safe and they’re also designed to fix the culture that has seen too many good staff let down."

The state was accused of running a kangaroo court inside prisons in August after a scathing report found thousands of conduct charges could be incorrect.

The NSW Ombudsman found thousands of prison punishments each year were likely applied unfairly amid sometimes blatantly unlawful processes.

Changes were being implemented immediately to reduce the risk of invalid disciplinary decisions, Mr Chanthivong said.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store