Media release: UN report says fixing prisons in Australia is the Federal Government’s responsibility and it’s failing to act
Australian GreensDec 21, 2023
UN Urges Australia to Reduce Prisoners on Remand
The Facts
Following a terminated visit to Australia in October 2022, the UN's Subcommittee on Prevention and Torture (UNSPT) has released a report claiming that the nation's prisons fail to adhere to the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) — a treaty Canberra ratified in 2017.
An inspection of Australian prisons last year was suspended after UN officials were reportedly denied complete access to imprisonment and detention facilities in the states of New South Wales and Queensland.
The Spin
Narrative A
Finally released after much anticipation, the UN's report is a scathing one for Australia's penal system. The federal government continues to deny responsibility for the continuation of torture and malpractice within several Australian states. The country must once again become compliant with its international obligations and end systemic mistreatment within its prisons.
Narrative B
For Australia to see long-term success, the country's immigration problem must be fixed, as it places undue stress on Australia's already overwhelmed correctional system. While Canberra should undoubtedly strive to meet the committee's recommendations, it must be careful not to overcorrect its failures by becoming too lax and unmethodically releasing dangerous criminals, as it has done since last month's ruling on indefinite detention.