‘Supermax II’: Australia to build first prison aimed at isolating radical inmates

Australia is to build its first prison aimed at isolating militants and stopping the spread of radical beliefs through the prison system as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism.

The new “Supermax II” facility would house 54 inmates, the Daily Telegraph reported, and ease the process of keeping radicalised inmates separate from others.

The unit will be within Goulburn’s high-security Supermax prison, said the premier of New South Wales state Gladys Berejiklian.

“We’ll be giving $47 million over the next three years to have the extra capacity to isolate those prisoners who are likely to try a spread radicalisation through the prison network,” Berejiklian said.

There are 33 people within the NSW prison system who have been jailed for terrorist offences, the state government said.

Australia has seen a series of “lone wolf” Islamist-inspired attacks recently, prompting a review of police tactics and the powers of state and federal authorities.