Breaking: Major disturbance unfolds at Perth's maximum security prison

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 8:20pm

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 8:20pm

A major disturbance involving several prisoners has reportedly caused significant internal damage at Perth's maximum-security prison and left an officer injured.

WA Prison Officers Union secretary Andy Smith said a disturbance broke out at Casuarina Prison, in Perth's south, on Thursday.

Mr Smith claimed two wings of a prison unit had been "trashed" and water had inundated several cells.

"That could leave anything up to 50 or 60 beds out of action," he said.

Mr Smith said he understood the disturbance was quelled within a couple of hours but it would take time to repair damage.

"We can't afford to lose cells," he said.

The Department of Justice confirmed the disturbance in a statement issued on Thursday night.

"Preliminary reports indicate about seven prisoners caused a disturbance this afternoon in their unit wing at Casuarina Prison," the department said.

"Officers from the Special Operations Group and Prison Response Team resolved the incident, securing all prisoners in their cells.

"One officer sustained a minor injury. Damage to the unit is being assessed.

"All cells in the unit are operational."

Staff shortage concern

Mr Smith said staff shortages were the union's number one concern.

"We absolutely need officers to be employed at a faster rate than they are, and we need to be able to keep prison officers in the job for longer," he said.

"We can't keep going into prisons and keeping prisoners locked up because we don't have the staff."

In June, WA's Inspector of Custodial Services released a report outlining deteriorating conditions at Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca prisons, where he highlighted a lack of growth in prison staff numbers.

Mr Smith said the prison opened on Thursday "horrendously understaffed".

The Department of Justice did not answer specific questions about staff shortages.