Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
MENU
Skip Navigation LinksHome Legislative Assembly

<b>LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY</b> - Signing ePetition

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - Signing ePetition - Free Phone Calls in NSW Prisons

To sign the ePetition, confirm you are a resident of New South Wales and enter your title, first name and last name. Once you click ‘submit’ you will have signed the ePetition and will be re-directed to the Legislative Assembly’s ‘ePetitions open for signature’ page

Free Phone Calls in NSW Prisons

To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, This petition of citizens of NSW states that: • On 18 September 2024, Sue Higginson MLC tabled a petition in the Legislative Council signed by over 1,000 incarcerated inmates in the State of NSW calling for free and readily available phone calls. • Studies show that regular phone and video calls and maintaining connection with loved ones and friends while in prison can significantly decrease rates of reoffending. • Despite this, in June 2023 the NSW Labor Government scrapped a service providing a low-cost option for inmates, effectively raising the price of a ten minute phone call from $0.25 to $2.60, or around 15% of an inmate’s average weekly income. • This change has put enormous financial strain on inmates and their families simply trying to maintain a connection. • We all deserve the right to communicate freely and securely with our loved ones, and this increase in the cost of phone calls by the NSW Government is harmful to the rehabilitation of inmates. We, the undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to call on this Government to scrap the cost of connection on inmates and their families, and provide free phone and/or video calls to inmates in the state of NSW immediately, and at the very least reinstate the low cost Engine Numbers program.

Name
Title
First name*
Family name *
Contact
Email*


The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.