The strike followed the quashing of inmate Bazam Hamzy's 20-month sentence for assaulting a prison officer in 2017.

Officers felt the decision demonstrated a lack of support and resources for their safety and around 3000 other officers at prisons across the state joined their sentiment, walking off the job at the same time.

A second prison in Goulburn has been proposed by Southern Infrastructure twice over the past three years. It was knocked back by the NSW government on the first occasion and the second proposal has gone quiet.

The proposals have divided opinions in the city, with one half saying the prison is overcrowded and infrastructure including the existing court, police and corrective services could support a new jail, while the other half says it doesn't want more prisoners in Goulburn.

We asked the Goulburn electorate candidates their thoughts.

Labor candidate Ursula Stephens is in favour. She supports officers in the recent strike and says the issues need fixing.

"Changes to bail laws have left our prisons overcrowded and plagued with issues relating to officer and inmate safety and well-being," she said.

"Beyond incarceration, prisons also benefit local economies and local businesses through the job opportunities they provide."

Animal Justice Party candidate Tracey Keenan is also in favour of new prisons in NSW, stating "the correctional services are overflowing at present and more prisons will ease the burden."

In the middle sits One Nation candidate Richard Orchard, who says he would say yes to a new prison if there was a need for one, and no if there wasn't.

"Regionally locating any new facility would be my preference," he said.

Then, on the other side of the debate, is The Greens candidate Dr Saan Ecker, who says "locking up more people doesn't work".

"We need to address the causes of crime, like inadequate mental health services, homelessness and gross inequality. We must insist that violence against women is unacceptable. One in four prisoners in NSW jails are Indigenous; we need to give people a future, not prison," she said.

Liberal Democrats party (LDP) candidate Dean McCrae thinks the state has enough prisons as it is.

"What we as a society should be doing is aiming towards fewer people needing to be locked up, not more, and our LDP policies regarding victimless crimes would take a huge burden off the current prison system as it stands," he said.

Andrew Wood (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) and Wendy Tuckerman (Liberal) didn't respond before publication.