No site selected yet to replace “dilapidated” Broome Regional Prison

After more than six years, “Australia’s worst prison” is still yet to find a new location.

Originally commissioned in 1945, Broome Regional Prison, which houses both male and female prisoners, sits in the middle of Broome just outside of Chinatown, has long drawn the ire of the community.

It has been described as “inhumane” and “unsuitable” in reports by Human Rights Watch and The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.

In 2019, the State Government announced it was looking to move the prison out of town, allocating $1.4 million to the planning of a new prison.

In 2022, it announced a potential location had been found near 12 Mile outside of Broome before being later abandoned due to community concerns over the location.

In response to questions from The Broome Advertiser a Justice Department spokesperson did not say if a new site had been selected or when the site might be announced.

“The State Government has allocated $4.7 million in the State Budget towards custodial infrastructure planning in line with the Department of Justice’s Long Term Custodial Infrastructure Plan. This plan will consider Broome prison,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile a Shire of Broome spokesperson said no update had been provided in relation to selection of a new prison site from the Department of Justice since July.

“The Department provided an update to the shire in July 2025 that it is continuing to undertake a detailed assessment of regional priorities and requirements given current prisoner population pressures,” they said.

“This includes the type and number of beds required to meet demand in the Kimberley region. The Shire welcomes investment to improving custodial facilities in an appropriate location.”

In 2023, The West Australian reported the new facility was expected to be built on Yawuru land at the Broome Road Industrial Park, but the Department did not confirm this when asked by the Broome Advertiser.

It comes after Broome Regional Prison had its ninth inspection by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services in May with a full report expected to be released next year.

After the release of the Inspector’s last report in 2023, then-Shadow Corrective Service Minister Peter Collier said the prison was “dilapidated”.

“Like Banksia Hill, this is a facility that has been neglected . . . is clearly not fit for purpose and there’s still no timeframe for when a new facility will be built,” he said.

The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services has long held the view that Broome Prison should be replaced.

In 2005 then-Inspector Richard Harding said Broome “in its present configuration and role its remaining life span should not extend beyond the current decade”.