Ministerial Cover Up at LB Prison Hospital

“The Law and Justice Committee of the Legislative Council is inspecting the Long Bay prison and forensic hospitals this morning after an urgency debate on the effect of the early lockdown on mentally ill patients” said JA Coordinator Brett Collins.

“The government has been condemned by the entire Australian mental health profession for that cost-cutting decision, and it promised to move all forensic patients into hospital conditions by the end of last month. That has not been done” said JA Coordinator Michael Poynder.

“The Minister for Justice Hatzistergos rejected Committee members’ requests for the Nurses Association and Justice Action to join the Parliamentary inspection as expert advisers. This leaves the mental patients to speak for themselves with guards present, despite the immense experience offered by both independent organisations. This arrogant abuse of power isolating patients from community support could never be justified” said Mr Collins.

“One of the patients, an Iranian citizen, has been rushed by ambulance to the Prince of Wales Hospital. He has refused his heart medication until the lockdown ends. The Iranian Ambassador Mahmoud Movahhedi has written to the Premier and Prime Minister saying the ‘allegations have become a matter of concern for the Islamic Republic of Iran’ and asked them to investigate alleged violations of his civil, legal and human rights” said Mr Poynder.

For comments:

Brett Collins on 0438 705 003
Michael Poynder on 0401 371 077

JUSTICE ACTION
Trades Hall, Suite 204, 4 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
PO Box 386, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
T 612 9283 0123 | F 612 9283 0112
E ja@justiceaction.org.au

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