‘Extreme self-harm’: Queensland Labor faces internal criticism over prison system

Queensland does not have the infrastructure in jails to house prisoners with significant mental health problems, Labor branch delegate Ashleigh Saunders says. Photograph: Vesnaandjic/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Queensland government is facing internal criticism of the state’s prison system, with Labor party rank and file members warned about instances of prisoners engaging in severe acts of self-harm and a growing number of inmates experiencing mental health issues.

Labor branch delegate and the daughter of state MP Bruce Saunders, Ashleigh Saunders, told the party’s weekend state conference workers at Queensland’s prisons are being exposed to extremely graphic and traumatising scenes.