Latest news with #HumanRightsLawCentre
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Grave concerns for Indigenous man's wellbeing after ‘close to 800 days' in solitary confinement at SA prison
Advocates have serious concerns for the wellbeing of a man in a South Australian prison they say has been in solitary confinement for 'close to 800 days'. Robert Barnes is serving an 11-year sentence at Yatala Labour prison in Adelaide and is in the high-security G Division. Uncle Major 'Moogy' Sumner, one of the state's most prominent Aboriginal elders, said Barnes, an Indigenous man, was in prison after assaulting a corrections officer Sumner and Mel Turner, a former Aboriginal liaison officer (ALO) at the prison, both said they had not previously heard of anyone being kept in solitary confinement for that long. 'It's getting close to 800 [days],' Turner said. Sumner, a Ngarrindjeri elder, environmental activist, former Greens candidate and member of South Australia's First Nations voice said he had been stopped from seeing Barnes because he spoke to the voice about the situation. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'I was going to see him, then I got told that because I'm a member of the voice in SA and I took it to the voice – and somehow they found out I mentioned it there and said I couldn't go in and see him,' Sumner said. 'That's what the voice is for. Anything wrong with Aboriginal people, we take it to the government.' Sumner is due to meet the state's correctional services head, David Brown, on Friday regarding Barnes's situation. 'We'll talk about what we can do. We have to get [Barnes] out of there,' Sumner said. The Human Rights Law Centre defines solitary confinement as isolation 'for 22 hours a day or more without meaningful human contact'. 'Prolonged solitary confinement is solitary confinement for a time period in excess of 15 consecutive days.' The centre has condemned it as a 'cruel practice that causes irreparable harm to the people who are subjected to this form of physical and sensory isolation', and called on governments to ban the 'archaic and inhumane' practice. Turner said she advocated for Sumner to visit Barnes, at which point she was told Sumner could not come in because he had spoken to the voice. 'I said 'Wow, I'll tell Major Sumner', and [the person] said, 'You can't tell him and you can't tell the prisoner',' Turner said. She said she last saw Barnes at the end of March. Turner has claimed she had been targeted and bullied and felt she had to resign from her role as an ALO, which she did in June. 'I resigned because I was pushed out,' she said. In a letter to Brown sent in May, seen by Guardian Australia, Turner said she had been 'hindered' in performing her role because of a ban on ALOs from accessing G Division, which was 'heartbreaking and soul-crushing' because her role is 'specifically aimed at preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody' and Barnes had self-harmed and attempted suicide twice. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion She said Barnes's sister told her he had tried to kill himself on Tuesday, the same day a protest was held outside the prison. SA Greens senator Barbara Pocock wrote to acting premier Susan Close to confirm exactly how long Barnes has been in solitary confinement, saying UN standards known as the Nelson Mandela Rules prohibit solitary confinement for more than 15 consecutive days. 'We send people to prison as punishment, not for punishment,' Pocock said in a statement on Wednesday. 'I am told this prisoner has already attempted suicide and self-harm on a number of occasion and I, along with many others in the community, hold grave fears for his health and wellbeing while he is held under these conditions.' In the letter to Close, seen by Guardian Australia, Pocock asked exactly how many days Barnes had been in solitary; whether UN rules had been breached; whether certain books and materials had been withheld; whether ALOs and Sumner were stopped from visiting; whether any officer had said Sumner was stopped from visiting because he was a member of the SA voice; and whether Close had confidence in the leadership and management at the prison. 'In view of these serious allegations and the clear threat and risk to Mr Barnes' health and wellbeing, I request that your government initiate an immediate investigation of these matters,' Pocock wrote. Guardian Australia has contacted the South Australian government and the Department of Correctional Services for a response. The department has told other outlets in a statement that it cannot comment on individual cases but 'continues to provide cultural and mental health support to identified prisoners in need across the system', including at Yatala. It also said Sumner was not banned from DCS sites, the ABC reported, and that an offer had been made for him to visit Yatala next week. Sumner said he had been told he could not see Barnes. Support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Warnings over push to curb some protests after attacks
Curbing protests following a spate of attacks on Jewish institutions will have a "chilling" impact on free expression, human rights' lawyers say, as a landmark plan to address anti-Semitism is revealed. The Victorian government is drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings following high-profile incidents involving masked neo-Nazis and the firebombing of a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four anti-Semitic incidents over the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz accused Premier Jacinta Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest, noting the laws would have prevented the synagogue attacks because they were not protests. A 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the East Melbourne synagogue arson, while counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan, and mask-ban exemptions for health, disability, and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she told AAP. Victoria's "knee-jerk measures" risked taking the state down the same path as the NSW government, which rushed "regressive" protest and speech laws through parliament after an explosives-laden caravan was found with anti-Semitic messaging in Sydney in February, Ms Schwartz said. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". More than 900 people have signed a Jewish Council of Australia petition calling on Ms Allan to drop the anti-protest laws. "These laws are not about our safety - they are about stopping dissent," it said. "Doing this in our names fuels the flames of anti-Semitism against us." Other Jewish groups suggest Victoria adopt a NSW-style protest permit system, following a pro-Palestine protest outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD on Friday, which left a glass door smashed and tables and chairs up-ended. Ms Allan has dismissed the measure. The Victorian opposition announced on Thursday it would introduce a protest registration system if elected at the November 2026 election. Police would be given stronger powers to crackdown on unregistered and disruptive protests with on-the-spot move-on orders, and repeat offenders who defied court-issued exclusion orders would face up to two years in jail as well as significant fines. It comes as Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, delivered her action plan, which recommended a review of laws around anti-Semitic and hateful conduct, including violent or intimidating protests. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintained people had a right to express their views but called for protests to be done "respectfully, peacefully, orderly". Ms Segal said the anti-Semitic events in Melbourne were not isolated and formed part of a broader pattern of intimidation and violence against Jewish Australians. Victoria beefed up its anti-vilification laws in March, and the criminal reforms will take effect on September 20.
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Warnings over push to curb some protests after attacks
Curbing protests following a spate of attacks on Jewish institutions will have a "chilling" impact on free expression, human rights' lawyers say, as a landmark plan to address anti-Semitism is revealed. The Victorian government is drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings following high-profile incidents involving masked neo-Nazis and the firebombing of a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four anti-Semitic incidents over the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz accused Premier Jacinta Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest, noting the laws would have prevented the synagogue attacks because they were not protests. A 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the East Melbourne synagogue arson, while counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan, and mask-ban exemptions for health, disability, and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she told AAP. Victoria's "knee-jerk measures" risked taking the state down the same path as the NSW government, which rushed "regressive" protest and speech laws through parliament after an explosives-laden caravan was found with anti-Semitic messaging in Sydney in February, Ms Schwartz said. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". More than 900 people have signed a Jewish Council of Australia petition calling on Ms Allan to drop the anti-protest laws. "These laws are not about our safety - they are about stopping dissent," it said. "Doing this in our names fuels the flames of anti-Semitism against us." Other Jewish groups suggest Victoria adopt a NSW-style protest permit system, following a pro-Palestine protest outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD on Friday, which left a glass door smashed and tables and chairs up-ended. Ms Allan has dismissed the measure. The Victorian opposition announced on Thursday it would introduce a protest registration system if elected at the November 2026 election. Police would be given stronger powers to crackdown on unregistered and disruptive protests with on-the-spot move-on orders, and repeat offenders who defied court-issued exclusion orders would face up to two years in jail as well as significant fines. It comes as Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, delivered her action plan, which recommended a review of laws around anti-Semitic and hateful conduct, including violent or intimidating protests. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintained people had a right to express their views but called for protests to be done "respectfully, peacefully, orderly". Ms Segal said the anti-Semitic events in Melbourne were not isolated and formed part of a broader pattern of intimidation and violence against Jewish Australians. Victoria beefed up its anti-vilification laws in March, and the criminal reforms will take effect on September 20.
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Get the facts': premier warned over anti-protest laws
Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said. Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said.
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Get the facts': premier warned over anti-protest laws
Jacinta Allan has been warned against following the lead of a fellow state premier in rushing through law changes to curb anti-Semitism without all the facts on high-profile attacks. The Victorian government has been drafting laws to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings. The proposed changes were announced in December after rallies from masked neo-Nazis and a synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne being firebombed. Another arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue, one of four alleged anti-Semitic incidents at the weekend, has prompted the premier to set up a task force and promise further action if required. Human Rights Law Centre legal director Sarah Schwartz stressed everyone has the right to worship in safety and without fear. But she accused Ms Allan of conflating acts of violence with peaceful protest. "Neither the attack on Adass Israel Synagogue or the arson attack on East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were in any way protests," she told AAP. "These laws around places of worship would not have done anything to prevent those attacks." The motivation for both incidents remains unknown, though counter-terrorism police continue to investigate the Ripponlea firebombing and a 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged over the other alleged arson. Ms Schwartz cited sexual abuse survivors outside churches as a legitimate form of protest that may be impinged under the plan and said mask ban exemptions for health, disability and religious reasons would be "impossible" to enforce without discriminatory policing. "These new laws taken altogether will have a chilling effect on peaceful protest," she said. NSW rushed protest and speech laws through parliament in February after explosives, anti-Semitic messaging and a list of addresses of Jewish people and institutions were found inside a caravan at Dural in Sydney's northwest in January. Investigators later revealed the discovery was part of a "criminal con job". Ms Schwartz, who doubles as Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, said the Victorian government was similarly resorting to "knee-jerk measures" instead of addressing the root causes of racist attacks. "Jacinta Allan really risks going down the same path that NSW Premier Chris Minns did when he enacted regressive, anti-protest measures in response to what we know now was an opportunistic criminal conspiracy," she said. Other Jewish groups have suggested the task force should consider Victoria adopting a NSW-style protest permit system, an idea Ms Allan has long dismissed. In a separate incident on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by about 20 pro-Palestine protesters who chanted "death to the IDF" - a reference to the Israel Defence Forces. The chant, which has gained notoriety after English punk rap duo Bob Vylan led it at Glastonbury music festival, was repeated at another Melbourne rally on Sunday. Victoria passed beefed-up anti-vilification laws in March but Ms Allan was unsure if the chant or signs with words to that effect would constitute an offence when the changes take effect in September. "I'll take their (Victoria Police's) advice on that matter," she said.
