Please read and share.

Why Dhurringile Prison Should Be Reopened
HM Prison Dhurringile should be reopened because it was one of Victoria's most successful examples of rehabilitation through productive work.

For almost 60 years, Dhurringile operated as a working prison farm where prisoners gained practical skills in dairy farming, horticulture, maintenance, and agriculture. Rather than sitting idle, prisoners learned responsibility, discipline, teamwork, and a strong work ethic—skills that helped prepare them for employment and life after release.

Key reasons to reopen Dhurringile include:

• Proven rehabilitation model – Prisoners worked every day, learned practical skills, and developed habits that reduced the likelihood of reoffending.

• Working prison farm – The farm provided meaningful employment, training, and purpose while contributing to the operation of the facility.

• Supports regional Victoria – The prison provided local jobs and economic activity for surrounding communities.

• Existing infrastructure – The facility already exists and could help ease pressure on Victoria's prison system without the cost of building a new prison from scratch.

• Strong safety record – Despite operating as a minimum-security prison farm for nearly 60 years, only a small number of escapes were publicly reported. Thousands of prisoners successfully completed their sentences and rehabilitation programs during that time.

• Focus on responsibility, not just punishment – Dhurringile gave prisoners the opportunity to earn trust, contribute through work, and prepare for successful reintegration into society.

Victoria needs more rehabilitation-focused prisons, not fewer. Reopening Dhurringile would restore a proven correctional model that combined public safety, productive work, skills training, and rehabilitation. It was a prison that worked—not only for prisoners, but for staff, taxpayers, and the wider community.