STORY: Jorian Gardner
PICTURES: Silas Brown

THE ACT Government’s controversial Alexander Maconochie Centre, just off the Monaro Highway in Hume, is nearing completion ahead of its official opening in mid September. 
The ultra modern, hi-tech prison, designed with human rights at the top of the agenda, will have taken a whopping 856,533 hours to get ready with 2750 workers putting their skills into the project. And there’s barely a prison bar to be seen.

The communal area for inmates in the mid-security section.

During a two-hour tour, “CityNews” was given access to all major areas of the prison, including the harrowing confines of the super-max section, where some of the most-hardened criminals will be housed in the ACT – confined to their cells in many cases for 23 hours a day. 

The cells for permanent maximum security prisoners…
inside for up to 23 hours a day.

However, most prisoners will be housed in modern cottages where they have access to their own kitchens and bathrooms as well as individual cells with views across the mountains – very much like a share house. 
It’s all designed to give a better quality of life to inmates, and help aid rehabilitation. There are also several family friendly areas with a playground for children where families can come together to see their loved ones in a more relaxed and open environment.
But don’t be fooled by the “nice” backdrop: Movement around the complex is restricted; the maximum daily wage through work and education programs is $9; there is no mixing of the male and female prisoners and outside visitors will be carefully monitored.

A room in one of the secure cottages for mid-security prisoners… a small amount of privacy in the toilet section (left)