This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/07/nsw-reversed-decision-to-allow-un-inspection-of-prisons-at-last-minute-committee-told
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NSW reversed decision to allow UN inspection of prisons at last minute, committee told | NSW reversed decision to allow UN inspection of prisons at last minute, committee told |
| (3 months later) | |
| ‘We were only notified on the day’ delegation arrived in Australia, secretary of federal Attorney-General’s Department says | ‘We were only notified on the day’ delegation arrived in Australia, secretary of federal Attorney-General’s Department says |
| New South Wales had committed to letting UN human rights inspectors visit the state’s jails before backflipping as the delegation was on its way to Australia, a federal budget estimates hearing has heard. | New South Wales had committed to letting UN human rights inspectors visit the state’s jails before backflipping as the delegation was on its way to Australia, a federal budget estimates hearing has heard. |
| A 12-day visit to Australia by a delegation from the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture was cut short in October because of a lack of cooperation from NSW and Queensland. | A 12-day visit to Australia by a delegation from the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture was cut short in October because of a lack of cooperation from NSW and Queensland. |
| The inspection, a condition of a human rights convention ratified by Australia in 2017, had been scheduled to take place during 2020 but was delayed over pandemic lockdowns. | The inspection, a condition of a human rights convention ratified by Australia in 2017, had been scheduled to take place during 2020 but was delayed over pandemic lockdowns. |
| Under its mandate, the subcommittee can carry out unannounced visits to all detention facilities and conduct private interviews with people deprived of their liberty. | Under its mandate, the subcommittee can carry out unannounced visits to all detention facilities and conduct private interviews with people deprived of their liberty. |
| Fielding a barrage of questions from senator David Shoebridge, the secretary of the federal Attorney-General’s Department said NSW had previously committed to inspectors having unfettered access to state-run jails. | Fielding a barrage of questions from senator David Shoebridge, the secretary of the federal Attorney-General’s Department said NSW had previously committed to inspectors having unfettered access to state-run jails. |
| “We had not been advised prior to the visit that NSW would not admit entry to subcommittee inspections,” Katherine Jones said on Monday. | “We had not been advised prior to the visit that NSW would not admit entry to subcommittee inspections,” Katherine Jones said on Monday. |
| “We were only notified on the day the subcommittee was arriving in Australia that NSW would not facilitate visits.” | “We were only notified on the day the subcommittee was arriving in Australia that NSW would not facilitate visits.” |
| The visit was scheduled for 16-27 October, before it was abruptly suspended. | The visit was scheduled for 16-27 October, before it was abruptly suspended. |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup |
| Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup | Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup |
| Department deputy secretary Simon Newnham confirmed all states and territories agreed to facilitate the visits to their facilities “including NSW”. | Department deputy secretary Simon Newnham confirmed all states and territories agreed to facilitate the visits to their facilities “including NSW”. |
| Aisha Shujune Muhammad, the head of the four-member delegation, had said NSW stonewalling the inspectors was “a clear breach by Australia of its obligations” under the convention. | Aisha Shujune Muhammad, the head of the four-member delegation, had said NSW stonewalling the inspectors was “a clear breach by Australia of its obligations” under the convention. |
| “It is deeply regrettable that the limited understanding of the SPT’s mandate and the lack of cooperation stemming from internal disagreements, especially with respect to the states of Queensland and New South Wales, has compelled us to take this drastic measure,” Muhammad said in a statement. | “It is deeply regrettable that the limited understanding of the SPT’s mandate and the lack of cooperation stemming from internal disagreements, especially with respect to the states of Queensland and New South Wales, has compelled us to take this drastic measure,” Muhammad said in a statement. |
| “This is not a decision that the [subcommittee] has taken lightly”. | “This is not a decision that the [subcommittee] has taken lightly”. |
| Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail | Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail |
| Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter | Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter |
| after newsletter promotion | |
| At the time, the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, defended his government’s decision on the grounds that funding commitments sought from the federal government were not met. | At the time, the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, defended his government’s decision on the grounds that funding commitments sought from the federal government were not met. |
| He described the NSW prison system as “the strongest in the country”. | He described the NSW prison system as “the strongest in the country”. |
| “Our prison system is there ultimately to do one thing and that is: keep the people of NSW safe,” Perrottet told the state’s parliament. | “Our prison system is there ultimately to do one thing and that is: keep the people of NSW safe,” Perrottet told the state’s parliament. |
| “We’ve set up those oversights in our prison system and if people have issues ... you can raise them with the minister or the corrective services commissioner.” | “We’ve set up those oversights in our prison system and if people have issues ... you can raise them with the minister or the corrective services commissioner.” |
| The federal attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, slammed NSW’s backflip in October as “disappointing”. | The federal attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, slammed NSW’s backflip in October as “disappointing”. |
| The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was ratified in 2017 by Malcolm Turnbull’s government. | The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was ratified in 2017 by Malcolm Turnbull’s government. |