THE high-profile prison boss headhunted from the United Kingdom to help turn around the operations at Risdon Prison has left the job just over a year into his five-year contract.
Tension between the old and new guard at the jail is understood to have been at the centre of the departure of prison boss, Risdon Prison Complex director Barry Greenberry.
The Department of Justice has recently signed off on a contract ending Mr Greenberry's employment.
He had been given a mandate to reform the state's prison system when he was handed the role last year.
Details of the agreement are expected to be confidential, but prison sources say Mr Greenberry, who was on an annual salary of about $180,000, would have to have been paid out at least part of his five-year contract.
Mr Greenberry has been on extended stress leave since late January after tensions between Mr Greenberry and Department of Justice management reached an untenable position in the early New Year.
And an internal investigation by the department, including a litany of complaints against Mr Greenberry, is believed to have been the final straw for the prison director.
Prison sources say the claims were primarily dominated by complaints from established prison management unhappy with the changes Mr Greenberry wanted to make at the prison, including a number of instances when he instigated changes without first informing managers below him.
The Mercury understands Mr Greenberry became increasingly frustrated at an inability to have direct contact with Corrections Minister Nick McKim and an increasing sense he was being undermined by established prison and departmental staff.
Long-time prison reform advocate, co-convener of the Prison Advisory Service and Mercury columnist Greg Barns said yesterday Mr Greenberry would be a huge loss to the system.
"Mr Greenberry has been a much-needed addition to the system who has been thwarted by forces in Tasmania who do not want to see the Risdon Prison Complex transformed," Mr Barns said.
"Mr Greenberry's commitment to the best treatment of prisoners was second to none. It is a tragic loss to prison reform."
Mr Barns said he had tried to contact Mr McKim about the challenges facing Mr Greenberry.
"What is most disappointing is the abject failure of Mr McKim to intervene. I had a number of contacts with Mr McKim's office and was stonewalled."
Mr Greenberry and inaugural change manager Brian Edwards were both employed in 2012 in a bid to turn around the culture in the prison that had been the subject of more than a decade of damning reports and inquiries looking into the management, operating procedures and infrastructure at the prison.
Mr Greenberry's resume includes the establishment of a prison on the Isle of Wight, housing 1700 prisoners with a staff of 900.
matthew.smith@news.com.au
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