Media release — 8 May 2008

ADCQ CALLS FOR CONSULTATION ON PRISONS BILL

The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland has called on Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence to consult with stakeholders on the Corrective Services Amendment Bill now before Parliament.

'The Bill has some far-reaching provisions including allowing direct discrimination in some circumstances.' Ms Booth said.

'For example, it means that the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal might have to consider whether race discrimination was ever "reasonable" in prison.

'There is simply no place for racism in Queensland whether it is in a prison, a workplace, a school or in the community.'

The Bill also stops prisoners from making complaints of discrimination unless they first complain to prison authorities and wait for up to four months.

'There is no obligation on prison authorities to treat a complaint seriously or to report on the outcomes of human rights abuse complaints.'

Ms Booth said there had been no consultation on the Bill with anyone outside the Queensland government.

'The Bill potentially breaches Australia’s international human rights obligations, so at the very least there should have been detailed consultation with the ADCQ and the Commonwealth Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission' she said.

'There are several aspects of the Bill that the ADCQ might well support, including preserving compensation payments for victims-of-crime, so the Department has really lost an opportunity to develop effective strategies to confront real discrimination issues as well as to deal with the complaints made by prisoners that cannot be substantiated.'

'It is not too late for consultation to take place with a full range of stakeholders including victims’ rights groups, the Prison Officers Union, prisoner rights advocates as well as the ADCQ and HREOC.'

'I confidently predict that consultation will lead to a better Bill, that preserves human rights for all Queenslanders while improving prison authorities’ ability to manage complaints fairly and expeditiously,' Ms Booth said.

For further comment contact Ms Susan Booth
telephone: 07) 3247 0901 or TTY 1300 130 680

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