Media release - 7 August 2004

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION QUEENSLAND BEGINS WOMEN IN PRISON REVIEW

Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Susan Booth today announced that the Commission would begin a review into women in prison.

The Review is in response to a submission made to the Commission by the advocacy organisation Sisters Inside alleging unfair treatment of women prisoners on the basis of their sex, race and disability. The submission claimed this treatment occurred in a number of areas of prison life, including access to work, the classification system, community release and strip searching.

Ms Booth said, 'We are looking at whether the issues raised by Sisters Inside could amount to systemic discrimination and breaches of international human rights conventions.'

Ms Booth added, 'I also have a copy of the Report commissioned by Department of Corrective Services entitled Independent Investigation into Allegations of Prisoner Abuse, Neglect and Mistreatment at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre. This report concentrates on specific allegations. The ADCQ review will be much broader because we will be considering whether systemic discrimination occurs in Queensland women’s prisons.'

Ms Booth urged those interested in putting in a submission to contact the ADCQ or log on the ADCQ website at www.adcq.qld.gov.au to obtain further information.

Media contact : Susan Booth
Telephone: 07) 3247 0901 or TTY 1300 130 680