Union claims of an increase in the number of prison officers assaulted by juvenile inmates have been rejected by the New South Wales Government.
The Public Service Association (PSA) said there had been a rise in assaults because guards had inadequate powers and a lack of specialised training.
"I think it's fair to say our delegates have had a gut full of being treated like punching bags and being spat on and assaulted on a virtual daily basis," PSA general secretary Stewart Little said.
"There's no training, there's no proper special-built facility, there [are] no programs designed to cater for these people.
"As a result of that, the assault rate on our members has absolutely gone through the roof."
Officers said a purpose-built facility should be used for high-risk inmates including those in detention on terrorism-related charges.
After meeting on Thursday, members of the PSA determined that if another guard was assaulted, officers across New South Wales would strike.
"They have resolved that in the event that there are any further serious assaults, it's likely to spark a state-wide stoppage," Mr Little said.
Corrections Minister David Elliot denied there had been an increase in assaults.
In fact, he said there had been fewer incidents of officers being assaulted.
"I've only seen one example of an assault," he said.
"The statistics shown to me show that the number of assaults against staff, like the number of children incarcerated, is actually going down in recent years."
He said behaviour such as spitting on officers could not be stopped.
"As we've seen in the past, the use of hoods used in the Northern Territory is quite an obscene option," Mr Elliot said.
He said a review into the need for a juvenile supermax would be undertaken.
"The union has come to me asking for a supermax for young people," he said.
"Given there are only four terrorist-related offenders in juvenile justice at the moment, that is something that I am open minded about, but that's certainly not something that is front of mind."
The Minister said he would also be looking into greater powers being given to juvenile guards.
"I certainly will be looking at, over the course of our regular operational responses, concerns raised by the union."
Minister 'delighted this contraband has been found'
Concerns have also been raised about the amount of contraband being found in adult prisons.
Labor has released figures provided under Freedom of Information which showed about 110 mobile phones were found inside NSW prisons in just the first four months of 2017.
Dangerous weapons such as a glove gun, slingshots and ammunition were also found.
The State Opposition said 44 electronic devices were found at Goulburn Correction Centre, the supermax prison which houses terrorists and gang leaders.
"The Corrections Minister has dropped the ball on keeping contraband out of NSW prisons and keeping the community safe," Opposition Leader Luke Foley said.
"The Berejiklian Government needs to act now to stop these lines of communication between criminals and outside prison walls."
However, Mr Elliot said the Government had invested in new ways to conduct thousands of searches every year in New South Wales, resulting in more finds.
"Whether it be scanners, whether it be the actual physical searching of a visitor - this has been new technology and [these are] new practices that haven't been used before - I'm delighted this contraband has been found," he said.
