Corey O'Donnell was relieved from duties at Cessnock prison on May 23 following allegations he engaged in at least two cases of misconduct at the jail more than a month earlier.

Greens MP Sylvia Hale fronted Minister for Corrective Services John Robertson over the allegations in State Parliament this week, concerned Mr O'Donnell was among a number of staff targeted by the department after their vocal participation in the jail's anti-privatisation campaign.

"I am very concerned the misconduct charges [suspension] that I understand have been laid against a number of staff at Cessnock may be part of a payback campaign by the Department of Corrective Services' senior management against officers and their families who successfully opposed privatisation," Ms Hale told The Herald yesterday.

"Given the criticisms of Commissioner [Ron] Woodham contained in the parliamentary inquiry report into privatisation, the Government should look a lot closer to the top of the department if it wants to sheet home blame for what has happened," Ms Hale said.

Mr Robertson has until July 21 to answer Ms Hale's concerns in writing.

The Department of Corrective Services refused to issue details on the matter yesterday, pending the independent investigation launched by the Industrial Relations Commission last month.

NSW Public Service Association senior industrial officer Stewart Little said Mr O'Donnell's suspension was a "classic example of the department's misuse of power".

"There is no way the allegations against Corey warrant suspension. They basically revolve around him swearing," Mr Little said.

"I have seen far more serious incidents than this and an officer hasn't been suspended.

"For suspension there must be an issue in the respect of safety, there must be serious misconduct.

"Corey is not a danger to anyone.

"They are short-staffed at Cessnock, Corey O'Donnell should be on the job."

Mr O'Donnell's wife Lynise, a leading Community Against Privatisation protester, said her husband had been victimised and had done nothing wrong.

"They [the department] have no idea of what they are not only doing to Corey, but to the family as a whole," Mrs O'Donnell said.

"They have put Corey back to base salary, which has put us in extreme hardship."