Grant Ballantine

Department of the Attorney-General and Justice

Born in New Zealand in 1956. Worked in various jobs both sides of the Tasman and moved to Darwin in the late 70’s.

Prior to joining NTCS I managed a Milk Company and then owned and operated a food wholesale business.

I Joined Corrections in July 1989 at Berrimah Prison, transferred to the HMG Prison in 1991.

As an NTPOA Executive member, I was an integral part of the process in writing the Prison Officers new Determination # 11 in the mid 90’s, negotiated the move for the Prison Officers from the old to the new Alice Springs Correctional Centre in 1996.

I have worked in all areas of the prison, risen through the ranks making it to Deputy Superintendent in the early 2000’s.

I was tasked with introducing and oversighting the introduction of the Sentence Planning process, and was integral in paving the way for the first prisoners going into employment in the general community. I also drove the release process of the first life sentenced prisoner in the NT after the change of legislation allowed for release to parole. I removed the prisoner from ASCC very early in the morning and took him for breakfast at the Truck Stop.

Crowning achievement: return to Berrimah Prison in 2014 as General Manager to support the commissioning team in preparation for the new DCC.  Transferring the last prisoners out on my birthday, closed and locked the front doors thereby ending an era of the history of NTCS, returning to Alice Springs in July 2015.