GEO Group Australia assumed responsibility for operations at 06.00am on 31 October 2009, the handover representing the first time an operational publicly managed prison in Australia had been transferred to private management. In response to parliamentary questions in November 2009 the NSW Minister for Corrections, John Robertson, described the transition as 'hugely successful'. The transition involved GEO Group Australia seconding staff from its other prisons in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland. To ensure robust oversight of the transition process, and that GEO complied with its obligations Corrective Services NSW installed a team of senior staff on-site for the period of transition.