![[image: outa jail]](prison1.gif)
On Sunday the 19th of May, over a thousand people converged on the prison to celebrate Fairlea's closure, and to protest against the institutionalized abuse carried out inside its walls.
While it was wonderful to be able to come together and show our solidarity for the women inside Fairlea, one could not help but feel apprehensive about the future of these women and that of their children. Fairlea will be replaced with Victoria's first private prison and the first private women's prison outside the U.S. The new 125-bed prison at Deer Park (on a site that is a contaminated rocket fuel testing area) is to be managed by the australian subsiduary of the largest private prison corporation in the world - Corrections Corporation of America. What this means is 24-hour video and audio surveillance and 24-hour lighting. Women will have to shower in full view of security cameras, there is no purpose-built detox centre and no 24-hour medical facility or supervision.
It is still very unclear as to whether women can have their children with them and what services will be provided.
On a lighter note, `Ring Out Fairlea' was women in song on both sides of the wall.
"I owe it to my sisters, who were once full of fight, that they are heard" - Mary Magdlain, from Fairlea Prison.
The right are crying out for private prisons, the left think they should be government run. We say: Fuck them both!
Abolish all prisons!