Judge to keep mentally ill man in jail

A mentally ill man has been jailed for another 12 months because the Northern Territory's top judge says there is no where else for him to go.

Christopher Leo, 28, has already spent 16 months in Alice Springs prison for the aggravated assault of a woman in August last year.

He was found unfit to stand trial but was found guilty in a special jury hearing last December.

Chief Justice Brian Martin says he had no choice but to keep Leo behind bars for another 12 months, as there was no support or housing facilities in the Territory to make him safe outside of prison.

But Leo's lawyer told the court jail had been very detrimental for him.

He says Leo tried to harm himself with a broom stick in January this year, and more jail time would hamper his ability to go back into society.

Justice Martin says it is "utterly unacceptable" there is no support or housing facilities for mentally ill people who commit minor offences, other than jail.

He says it is not good enough that the Territory has not been able to provide any accommodation or resources for the mentally ill, and this should not be so in a civilised society.

He says work to build resources and facilities for mentally ill people who commit minor offences needs to be in the pipeline by next year.

The judge says by the time the review is held in July, he expects resources and support will be available so Leo can be released into the community.

But he says even if building work on facilities started straight away, they will not be finished in time.

He ordered a transcript of today's Supreme Court proceedings to be sent to the Health Department, Department of Corrections and Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Territory Government says a housing plan which will address the lack of mental health facilitates will be released next year.

Housing Minister Rob Knight admits more needs to be done.

"A lot of people who are homeless have mental illness and need specific supported accommodation with specialised providers," he said.

"I guess we acknowledge there is an issue and there is a need there and while there are some services being provided, there is more services that need to be provided in the future."

A Territory lawyer says Leo is part of a growing list of people not receiving proper support.

Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid lawyer Mark O'Reilly says Leo has had a tough time over the past 16 months in maximum security at Alice Springs jail.

He told the Supreme Court today Leo is in a hopeless situation and the jail only has one officer to support all of its mentally ill inmates, including three men serving life imprisonment.

He says arrangements should have been made to put Leo into a suitable interstate facility in the time he had been jailed.

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

BREAKOUT DESIGNPRINTWEB
proudly sponsors Justice Action

Related:

Churches protest Christmas prison visits
“Over 2,700 children and family members have visited prisoners on Christmas Day for the past 16 years, until NSW Corrective Services stopped the visits last year. After an initial change of heart, Christmas Day visits have been cancelled again” JA coordinator Brett Collins revealed.

Slow release for mentally ill prisoners
As many as 2000 NSW prisoners will receive improved psychiatric care under a revision to forensic mental health legislation.

Chock-a-block: state's jails bursting at seams
A new jail every two years - that is what's required to house NSW's prisoners.

Death brinkmanship patients lockdown
“The Minister for Justice Mr Hazistergos has been finally called to order by patients in the Long Bay Prison Hospital. After his unmet promise to Parliament on November 12 that no forensic patients would remain locked down in his prison hospital after November 28, the first protest has occurred” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

Violence and malnutrition linked before
The president of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Andrew Sinclair, says evidence presented at a conference shows violence and malnutrition are linked.

Prison privatisation morally wrong, bankrupt
“The NSW Government’s mini budget decision to privatise Cessnock and Parklea prisons would add them to the disaster that prison privatisation has proven around the world. Unions NSW added its voice in a resolution last night.” said JA Coordinator Brett Collins.

Two more NSW jails to be privatised
Cutting services through privatisation will mean worse results and higher costs eventually, which will be borne by the victims and taxpayers..Justice Action.

NSW slashes $3 billion - deficit $917M
The NSW government has slashed more than $3 billion from its planned spending for the next four years, as today's mini-budget confirms the state will record a deficit of $917 million this financial year.

NSW prisoners confined to cells for strike
The strike action, which began last night, is affecting some of the state's major prisons including Long Bay, Parklea, Cessnock and Goulburn.

160 juveniles housed in NSW police cells
We have seen a massive increase in the number of kids who are being held on remand partly due to the changes in bail laws: Juvenile Justice Minister
Most prisoners in New South Wales will be confined to their cells today as prison officers strike against privatisation plans.

NSW conviction and jail rates still on rise
THE number of people sentenced to jail in NSW continues to rise, as does the conviction rate.

REPORT OF ICOPA XII: Howard League
Here is the Report of the Twelfth International Conference on Penal Abolition (ICOPA XII) held in London in July 2008.

Australians support tough stance on alcohol

A new report released today show Australians support a tough stance on alcohol.

The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that when it comes to drugs, Australians are most concerned about alcohol.

Half of all recent drinkers say they have curbed their alcohol consumption, mostly for health reasons.

The report shows a decline in the number of smokers, and even those who continue to smoke, are cutting back.

Marijuana and meth-amphetamine use is also down, but the use of cocaine and tranquillisers for non-medical reasons has increased.

Most Australians say they support policies which aim to reduce alcohol.

Related:

Alcohol ads must go: Della Bosca
THE NSW Health Minister, John Della Bosca, will seek tougher restrictions on alcohol advertising at a meeting of health ministers today as NSW hospital figures revealed a huge rise in the number of drunk young people being treated in emergency departments.

Alcohol-related hospital visits rise
Alcohol-related hospital visits rocket, with young women the worst.

Brumby confronts booze culture on streets
Victorian Premier John Brumby has toured some of Melbourne's most notorious nightlife strips as his government plots its next move against rising alcoholism and street violence.

Message on a bottle for binge drinkers
BOTTLES of alcoholic drinks could soon carry graphic pictures warning of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption as part of the Federal Government's latest series of measures to cut down on under-age and binge drinking.

Alliance tackles drunken violence
THE TOLL of alcohol-related violence has reached the point where one in five Australians now say they have been directly affected or know someone who has been affected by this type of violence, a new survey shows.

Binge drinking teens: 'two deaths a week'
South Australia's Drug and Alcohol Service says there are about two deaths a week in Australia involving young people who have been binge-drinking.

Calls for binge warnings on alcohol packaging
The Public Health Association (PHA) says warnings about the dangers of binge drinking should be pasted on all forms of packaged alcoholic drinks.

Economic crisis spawns depression booklet

The national depression initiative, Beyond Blue has released a booklet to help Australians cope with the global economic crisis.

Beyond Blue chairman, Jeff Kennett says many families will find themselves in financial hardship over the next 18 months.

He says the booklet details strategies on how to cope with stress associated with financial loss and retrenchment.

"It's a booklet that helps to focus our attention through education on the things that we need to do if in fact we're in either of those two categories," he said.

"I think more importantly it's designed to educate us all about how to deal with change that might affect our lives and that of our families."

Related:

Economists sound recession warning
It is very predictable and the worst case could be something up to the level of the Great Depression which was 20 per cent unemployment and lasting up to a decade.

Financial crisis will hurt jobs, Swan warns
Job losses across Australia will be inevitable as the effects of the global financial crisis hit Australian businesses, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

More families needing emergency support
The welfare group Anglicare says it is noticing a growing need among working families for emergency relief and housing support.

Freefall Friday: $84b - worst day in 21 years
Australian shares had their worst day since the crash of 1987, losing more than 8%, as mounting recession fears sent equity markets tumbling around the world.

States 'dreaming' over extra funding
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he will not bow to pressure from states to provide billions of dollars in extra funding.

Economists predict unemployment rate rise
The unemployment rate has jumped from 4.1 per cent to 4.3 per cent.

Market plunges 5pc, dollar crashes
The Australian share market plunged 5 per cent today, as the dollar hit a new five-year low. Fear of a global recession has seized markets, with big falls across the major indices overnight.

Associate Professor Steven Keen.
Steven Keen has come increasingly to prominence over the past couple of years specialising in the economics of Australia's spiralling household debt burden.

$50b Aussie wipe-out
Australian stocks wiped more than $50 billion off the value of the market today after the US House of Representatives rejected a $US700 billion ($860 billion) plan to rescue the financial system.

Upwardly immobile: mortgage stress bites
Reserve Bank statistics do not begin to tell the real story of housing stress in Sydney's western suburbs, according to financial counsellor Mike Young.

Households give up three years of gains
AUSTRALIAN households have been hit so hard this year that their financial gains of the past three years have been wiped out, a Reserve Bank report has found.

Company fined over workplace death

A Melbourne company and its managing director have been fined $100,000 each over the death of a worker in 2006.

It is the first time a company director has been sentenced for a workplace death, under the Occupational Heath and Safety Act 2004.

The Victorian County Court heard the managing director of Manumatic Industries, Stanley Guthrie, told an employee, Frank Grima, to make drip trays for a machine that manufactured exhaust pipes at the company's Epping factory.

The court was told Mr Grima was hit on the head when he approached the machine and died from his injuries.

He was 55-years-old.

The court heard the machine's key safety feature, a laser safety curtain, was not working effectively.

Guthrie pleaded guilty to one count [of?] and Manumatic Industries pleaded guilty to a two charges [of?]

Outside Court Mr Grima's son Paul said he was happy with the sentence.

"Nothing will ever bring back my father but the judge did look into it and made the right call," he said.

Quote One count of what? Two charges of what? Manslaughter? Why was that too hard to print?

Slow release for mentally ill prisoners

This would occur over time and there would be no sudden mass release of prisoners: MHRT

As many as 2000 NSW prisoners will receive improved psychiatric care under a revision to forensic mental health legislation.

The changes will also secure the earlier release, under community treatment orders, of some people whose illness had previously made them unsuitable for parole.

Greg James, QC, president of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and architect of the reforms - already enacted and likely to go into effect from February - said the tribunal would supervise psychiatric treatment for prisoners and ensure it continued after their release. According to some estimates, nearly half of prisoners have some form of mental illness.

Court diversion programs are preventing about 1600 mentally-ill people a year from receiving a jail sentence, but the changes mean that for the first time psychiatric treatment for those who are jailed will be co-ordinated with treatment after release. Both will be under the tribunal's supervision, with individual treatment orders made by a panel comprised of a judge, a forensic psychiatrist and another mental health practitioner.

Mr James said about one-fifth of some 2000 forensic patients had been judged unfit to stand trial on account of their mental illness, while the remainder were serving their sentences. Of these people, about 1000 might otherwise be eligible for parole, but "the parole board does not regard them as capable of adjusting to community life," he said.

The new treatment regime would accelerate such people's parole, Mr James said, but this would occur over time and there would be no sudden mass release of prisoners. "The expertise is all in place" in community health services, he said. "I don't think you'll find community agencies will be stretched."

Philip Mitchell, the head of the school of psychiatry at the University of NSW and chairman of the NSW Mental Health Priority Taskforce, said the standard of mental health care in jails was improving. "It's not perfect but there's been a shift and very capable people are moving into forensic mental health," he said. Young doctors now competed for training places that had previously been impossible to fill.

Nevertheless, the legislative changes and a new forensic hospital to be opened at Long Bay but run by NSW Justice Health (a division of the NSW Department of Health) represented "a huge expansion" in psychiatric services, Professor Mitchell said. "The challenge for the system will be getting enough staff."

John Basson, the statewide clinical director of forensic mental health within NSW Justice Health, said many senior doctors had applied to work at the facility, but the agency was having difficulty attracting enough junior doctors. Mental health nurse recruitment was also problematic. "We're struggling like everyone else," he said.

Related:

Chock-a-block: state's jails bursting at seams
A new jail every two years - that is what's required to house NSW's prisoners.

Death brinkmanship patients lockdown
“The Minister for Justice Mr Hazistergos has been finally called to order by patients in the Long Bay Prison Hospital. After his unmet promise to Parliament on November 12 that no forensic patients would remain locked down in his prison hospital after November 28, the first protest has occurred” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

VICTORY FOR MENTAL PATIENTS
“Finally the government has acknowledged the right of mental patients to treatment that respects their special needs. To cause vulnerable citizens to suffer for administrative purposes is essentially torture and diminishes us as a community” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

LINE IN SAND ON MENTAL HEALTH
“Patients under state control have had their social interaction reduced, and right to smoke removed. These vulnerable and isolated citizens, to whom the state owes a special obligation, are extremely distressed and have asked for community assistance,” said JA spokesperson Michael Poynder.

Madness causing madness in prison hospital
“Fifty mental health patients held at the Long Bay Prison Hospital have from yesterday been locked in cells from 3.30 in the afternoon rather than the normal 9pm” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

NSW bill for sick police tops $115m

Ten times as many NSW police officers retire on medical grounds than their Victorian colleagues, gaining access to benefits costing taxpayers over $115 million this year.

The findings, in a report by the Auditor General, follow a review of the way the NSW Police manage injured workers.

Medical grounds are the most common reason for leaving the police force - ahead of resignation or retirement - and psychological injury is the third most common injury, the report has found.

The auditor General, Peter Achterstraat, has recommended an immediate review of the police force's Death and Disability scheme (which covers officers who joined after April 1999).

Since its inception in 2005, the number of officers leaving on medical grounds and making claims under the scheme has tripled.

The police should conduct an immediate review of the scheme and either reduce its benefits, increase officers' contributions or abolish the scheme, Mr Achterstraat recommended.

"The people of NSW are losing out because they are losing experienced, highly trained police officers who take a great deal of time to replace. The financial cost is one thing but more importantly, it's not always the best outcome for the police officer and the community," he said.

It was important to rehabilitate officers and get them back to work as soon as possible.

But, he said, the police forces's approach to managing officers since 2006 was appropriate, and workers compensation premiums for the current financial year had fallen.

Related:

Charge officers over falsified breath tests: PIC
Three police officers should be charged with perverting the course of justice after allegedly falsifying alcohol breath tests to help two well-connected suspects escape prosecution, the Police Integrity Commission recommends.

Record level of complaints against NSW police
The number of complaints against NSW police has grown to a record level of more than 1000, new data reveals.

Police on sexual act, report finds
A WOMAN escaped a drink-driving charge after two male police officers turned a blind eye to her breath test results when she agreed to perform a sexual act on one of them in the back of her car, the annual NSW Ombudsman report reveals.

Over 130 police have criminal convictions
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has defended his force, as new figures show 133 serving officers have criminal convictions.

Man not guilty due to mental illness

A man who stabbed his wife to death has been found not guilty due to mental illness.

The 36-year-old man stabbed his 31-year-old wife in her Randwick unit in Sydney's east in November 2007.

The New South Wales Supreme Court heard he accused her of having an affair and days before exhibited disturbed behaviour, telling his wife he almost stabbed her friend.

After the stabbing the man fled with [his eight year old] child and was eventually found by police on the south coast of NSW.

Today Supreme Court Justice Peter Hidden ruled the man is not guilty of murder due to mental illness.

He ordered him to be detained in the hospital unit at Sydney's Long Bay prison until released by the due process of the law.

Death brinkmanship patients lockdown

“The Minister for Justice Mr Hazistergos has been finally called to order by patients in the Long Bay Prison Hospital. After his unmet promise to Parliament on November 12 that no forensic patients would remain locked down in his prison hospital after November 28, the first protest has occurred” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

“One patient has refused heart medication until they are moved to the Health Department’s Forensic Hospital. The patient said yesterday: ‘Death is better than 18 hours solitary confinement driving us mad’. Nurses warned him that he was risking his life to not take the 7 different tablets each day. The Iranian Ambassador and Consul General met with the patient on Friday afternoon and have asked for an explanation from Premier Nathan Rees and the Prime Minister. This is a breach of government responsibility” said Mr Collins.

“The Labor Government spent $130 million dollars on two new hospitals. It has managed the new facilities so badly that the patients have been locked in solitary confinement from 3.30 in the afternoon instead of 9pm since April 2, to cut costs. The total mental health community including Australia’s peak bodies, leading psychiatrists, and nurses have said that this seclusion is causing mental illness for already sick patients” said Mr Collins.

“In an Urgency Motion 12/11 in the Legislative Council all parties including the Shooters Party and Christian Democrats forced the Government to explain itself. The Minister abused and threatened those questioning his decisions, but assured them that the situation would end on November 28. (transcripts see JA website) But the patients remain locked down” said Mr Collins.

Prison officers are meeting with the Corrective Services this morning. They have protested at the loss of their 28 positions.

Contact: Brett Collins 0438 705003

Related:

VICTORY FOR MENTAL PATIENTS
“Finally the government has acknowledged the right of mental patients to treatment that respects their special needs. To cause vulnerable citizens to suffer for administrative purposes is essentially torture and diminishes us as a community” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

LINE IN SAND ON MENTAL HEALTH
“Patients under state control have had their social interaction reduced, and right to smoke removed. These vulnerable and isolated citizens, to whom the state owes a special obligation, are extremely distressed and have asked for community assistance,” said JA spokesperson Michael Poynder.

Madness causing madness in prison hospital
“Fifty mental health patients held at the Long Bay Prison Hospital have from yesterday been locked in cells from 3.30 in the afternoon rather than the normal 9pm” said JA spokesperson Brett Collins.

Prison privatisation morally wrong, bankrupt
“The NSW Government’s mini budget decision to privatise Cessnock and Parklea prisons would add them to the disaster that prison privatisation has proven around the world. Unions NSW added its voice in a resolution last night.” said JA Coordinator Brett Collins.

Two more NSW jails to be privatised
PRIVATE operators will take over the running of two NSW jails under an obscure provision in the mini-budget that the Rees Government hoped would go unnoticed.

NSW prisoners confined to cells for strike
“The ultimate responsibility for government is the creation of a safer society. Corrective Services spends $70,000 a prisoner a year, yet 44% of prisoners return to prison within two years. Cutting services through privatisation will mean worse results and higher costs eventually, which will be borne by the victims and taxpayers” said Justice Action spokesperson Michael Poynder.

Prison officers to stage 24-hour strike
NSW prison officers will stage a 24-hour strike over fears the government is planning to privatise prisons and prisoner transport services.

Disability group: review migration laws

The Down Syndrome Association of Western Australia says the Commonwealth must review legislation which makes it hard for people with children with disabilities to migrate to Australia.

The call follows the Federal Government's decision to grant permanent residency yesterday to a Perth midwife who has a child with Down syndrome.

In the Senate yesterday the Government and the Opposition argued over whose fault it was that it took the woman several years and attempts to get the application approved.

Jan Gothard from the Down Syndrome Association of Western Australia says the delay is unacceptable and is appealing for the relevant legislation to be repealed.

"So that migration is not exempt from disability discrimination and then people with disabilities would be treated fairly within the migration process just as they should be within Australia as a whole," she said.

She says the Migration Act needs to be reviewed so it does not discriminate against people with disabilities.

"Down syndrome and many other disabilities are not health issues, they are developmental conditions or genetic conditions which don't necessarily impact on health," she said.

"I think we should look at health as a separate issue."

Man grew cannabis 'for pain relief'

The Supreme Court in Brisbane has heard a Sunshine Coast man was on a surgery waiting list for so long that he turned to using cannabis for pain relief.

Fifty-four-year-old Alan Ross Purves pleaded guilty to possessing and producing cannabis at his Mapleton home in March this year.

The court heard police went to Purves's house on another matter and could smell the drug.

Purves told police he was using marijuana because he had been on a waiting list for gallstone surgery since 2003.

Justice John Byrne jailed Purves for six months, but immediately suspended the sentence.

Quote: The man should be given an award for bravery.

Lung disease costing $9b a year

The Australian Lung Foundation says new research has found an alarming number of Australians are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The disease, commonly caused by cigarette smoking, is a long-term illness causing shortness of breath, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

A report by Access Economics has found almost one in five Australians aged over 40 have COPD, putting a direct $900 million burden on the health care system each year.

The report estimates overall costs to the economy at almost $9 billion annually.

Professor Peter Frith from the respiratory services unit at Adelaide Hospital says people need to made more aware of the disease so it can be detected earlier.

"Where we can get them to take on treatments that will actually help them to prevent them becoming disabled and dying early," he said.

Quote: Lung disease caused by cigarette smoking may cost $9b a year but when you subtract that figure from the Federal Governments tax on cigaretts (that was meant to cover ill-health) then the figure is diminished somewhat, so there is a bit of propaganda here by our corporate goverment and media. That is not to say people shouldn't give up smoking. Of course they should. Now!

Midnight glass ban for 'problem' pubs

New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees says the state's most problematic licenced venues will be banned from using beer glasses after midnight and will face a mandatory 2:00am lockout.

Mr Rees also says no more 24-hour licences will issued as part of an overhaul of alcohol laws in New South Wales.

He says the measures are designed to tackle a drinking culture, which he has described as spiralling out of control.

"The 50 most problematic venues across the states [will] have tough new licensing conditions applied that will include a mandatory 2:00am lockout," he said.

"It will include the cessation of alcohol service 30 minutes before closing time, it will include the introduction of plastic glasses for use after midnight and it will include limits on drink purchases after midnight."

Mr Rees says the State Government wants the changes in place by this summer.

"[There are] 21,000 incidence of alcohol-related incidents each year and we want to drive that down," he said.

He says he has not spoken to pubs and clubs about the measures.

"The people of New South Wales are demanding we change the laws," he said.

See-through scanners an 'invasion of privacy'

Civil liberty advocates say a new airport security scanner that can see through a passenger's clothes "goes way too far" and invades peoples' privacy.

The hand luggage and body scanners will be tested on passengers at Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide airports on a voluntary basis, and was put on display at Melbourne airport today.

The head of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, Terry O'Gorman said that the technology allows virtual strip searches.

He says it has grossly overstepped the mark.

"You have to ask yourself, 'has the war against terrorism got to the stage where we, in effect, have to have our genitals shown, viewed by someone in another room, in the name of airport safety?'" he said.

"We say this goes too far.

"We say it skews the balance between proper security on the one hand and the maintenance of basic civil liberties, particularly bodily privacy, on the other."

Mr O'Gorman says airports may be only the first application for the scanners.

"You can bet once it's introduced at airports there will then be calls for it to be introduced at sporting stadiums," he said.

"There will then be calls for it to be introduced at public malls to deal with teenagers carrying knives, etc.

"It will not stop at airports."

Related:

Privacy, health, fears over airport X-ray
AIR travellers will be invited to take part in "virtual strip searches" [X-rays] at Australian airports when the Federal Government begins trials of security screening measures this month.

Cycle protest shuts Swanston Street

Cyclists walk their bikes past the town hall in Swanston St.

Hundreds of cyclists silently walked their bicycles down Swanston Street this morning protesting for safer cycling conditions along the busy inner-city route.

- Ride to Work Day
- Hundreds join protest
- 'Safe cycling' demand

Traffic police instructed trams, vehicles and pedestrians to wait as a column of about 700 cyclists made its way from the state library to Federation Square.

The protest was organised by Jeremy Rawlins, whose wife Carolyn died in an accident while cycling down Swanston Street last month, and coincides with National Ride to Work Day.

Mrs Rawlins was hit by a tour bus on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets after her bicycle slipped over on tram tracks as she cycled to work on September 18.

There were several tour buses parked on the corner where Ms Rawlins died this morning, even as the protesters, led by Mr Rawlins,made their way down Swanston Street.

Some of the protesters carried signs reading: "Make Swanston Street safe for cyclists".

Fellow organiser Michael Frazzetto said Melbourne City Council is responsible for building a safer bicycle lane.

"We are calling on the experts in Melbourne City Council to fix up the street. The council has a duty to provide safer conditions," Mr Frazzetto says.

Meanwhile, hundreds more cyclists were taking part in official Ride to Work Day activities at Federation Square.

The day is jointly sponsored by the government, health groups and cycling advocacy groups and aims to encourage non-cyclists to try cycling into work by offering free breakfast and peer support. Over 1000 people arrived at Federation Square this morning where they were offered advice on helmet hair, free reflective ankle straps, free massages and breakfast.

Most people at the breakfast said they cycle to work and into town regularly.

Stuart Schnaars of Diamond Creek, who cycles for an hour into work three to four times a week, says organisation is the key to commuting by cycle.

"People probably just cannot be bothered," he said.

"You have have a change of clothes and all your showing gear at work because it is too far to ride carrying all the extra luggage".

Andrew Libby from Rosanna says he started cycling into work regularly four or five years ago because he was sick of sitting in traffic each morning.

"The traffic is so bad, it is quicker for me to ride home than drive," Mr Libby says.

"If I drive home, leaving at 6pm, it is an hour and a half because the traffic is just so bad everywhere you go."

Michelle Milton from St Kilda says she finds the on-road routes too dangerous at peak hours, so takes a longer route to work.

"I go all the way through Albert Park to stay away from cars because even though there is a bike lane for cyclists, cars just do not give you the privilege to ride down the roads," Ms Milton said.

There was a lot of lycra, fluorescent clothing and helmets walking around Federation Square this morning, but Ms Milton says the cycling `uniform' is all about safety.

"There is a lot of fluoro, but you want to be seen on the roads."

Victoria Police were also on hand to engrave bicycles with identification numbers so they can be returned to owners if they are lost or stolen.

A spokesman for Victoria Police said the engraving service is available throughout the year from all police stations.

There were some non-cyclists who had been encouraged to cycle into work for the first time by friends and work colleagues.

Hung Chau, from Oakleigh, says he cycled in with colleagues.

"It is my first time today, although I cycle into the city on weekends," Mr Chau says.

"I might cycle more regularly if I get fitter," he joked.

Martine Ward was also encouraged by friends to cycle into work from her home in Fitzroy for the first time today .

Ms Ward says she was primarily motivated by environmental issues and borrowed a bicycle from a work colleague for today's ride.

"I would cycle in again if I had my own bike," she said.

"It was an easy ride, about 25 minutes, but I was a bit wobbly at first" she giggled.

Vic Parliament passes abortion bill

The Upper House debated the bill for four consecutive days and nights, and last night a final vote was counted. It passed 23 votes to 17.

All amendments were rejected, including a proposal to exempt doctors who object to abortions from having to refer their patients onwards.

Abortion will now be removed from the Crimes Act and a woman can freely choose to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks gestation. Late term abortions will require the consent of two doctors.

Women's Affairs Minister Maxine Morand says it is an historic moment.

"We now have clarity and certainty for women and health practitioners in Victoria and that is fundamentally and incredibly important," she said.

She says the lengthy parliamentary debate may be the longest in history.

"It'd be hard to find a bill that has been debated as long as this in the history of the Victorian Parliament," she said.

"I might even have a look at what we can compare it with, but it's certainly a unique moment in time."

Liberal MP Wendy Lovell says she is relieved abortion is no longer a crime.

"It's actually historic that it's happened in October 2008, because it was October 1908 that women were given the vote," she said.

"So 100 years later, women have again won the right to be in control of their own bodies."

Both sides of the parliamentary debate praised the respect and restraint shown by the other side.

Related:

Abortion bill passed in conscience vote
The bill to decriminalise abortion in Victoria has passed a conscience vote of Upper House MPs by six votes.

Victorian lower house passes abortion law
A law to decriminalise abortion in Victoria has been passed by the lower house of Parliament.

Vic rally calls for abortion rights
Ms Brennan said its supporters wanted abortion rights for women at all stages of their pregnancy. The main message is that the majority out there in the community will not accept a compromise on abortion rights.

Abortion bill passed in conscience vote

The bill to decriminalise abortion in Victoria has passed a conscience vote of Upper House MPs by six votes.

The final vote was 23 to 17.

The decision has been welcomed by former Premier, Joan Kirner a long-time pro-choice campaigner.

Ms Kirner said she is relieved the bill passed in the Upper House.

"It was fantastic to see people from all sides of the House standing up to make sure that women were no longer potential criminals," she said.

Secrecy over Mount Isa children's lead levels

Mt Isa children still at risk for lead

AT least 12 children in Mount Isa still have dangerously high lead levels but the State Government is refusing to give details of the cases.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson was yesterday forced into a partial backdown by releasing test data - only a day after claiming the information could not be made public for legal reasons.

The State Government was still refusing to release case progress reports amid claims it was not being open and accountable with residents and was dragging its heels on the issue.

Several families have already begun legal action against the Government and Swiss mining giant Xstrata, which owns the town's mine, over allegations of negligence which resulted in lead poisoning among children.

A Queensland Health report in May found 45 children - about 11 per cent of those tested - had elevated blood lead levels.

It has also emerged five of another 36 children tested since June also had dangerously high levels.

New figures released in State Parliament yesterday by Mr Robertson showed only 22 of the original 45 children underwent re-testing in recent months.

Twelve still had levels higher than 10 micrograms/decilitre - the point where intellectual and behavioural problems could occur - while 10 had levels that were now below 10 micrograms.

Slater & Gordon lawyer Damian Scattini, who is acting on behalf of families engaged in a class action, yesterday said the results showed education such as glossy pamphlets was failing.

"The Minister should be releasing all the reports (even with names censored)," Mr Scattini said. "They promised they would be open and accountable. How many (children poisoned) is too many for this Government?"

Mr Robertson acknowledged the huge public interest but said the current legal action could not be compromised.

"Each of the families of the children with elevated lead levels has been given advice on methods to reduce their child's exposure to lead," Mr Robertson said. "Detailed environmental audits have been conducted on the households that have children with elevated lead levels."

Privacy, health, fears over airport X-ray

Invasion of privacy, radiation fears... at your own risk.

AIR travellers will be invited to take part in "virtual strip searches" [X-rays] at Australian airports when the Federal Government begins trials of security screening measures this month.

The measures include a body scanner [X-rays] that can see what lies under a person's clothes. The Government says the scanner could detect weapons and explosives, but critics say it is an invasion of privacy.

"It provides detailed images of a person's body … which many people might find highly embarrassing," said Stephen Blanks, of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties.

"It's not normal for security to require strip searches of people getting on aeroplanes, and why should this virtual strip search become the norm?"

The executive director of the Government's Office of Transport Security, Paul Retter, said: "During the trial, travellers will be able to choose the existing hand luggage scanners and walk-through metal detectors, or they could choose the technology trial lane and provide feedback on the technologies."

Measures existed to ensure passengers' privacy and dignity would be protected, he said. Officers examining the images would not see the actual person. "Faces are blurred and images are not saved."

He said the scans were safe [?] and emitted only a minute amount of radiation.

The trial will also include [X-ray] machines that detect explosives, and liquid analysers.

Public acceptance of the technologies and their effect on passenger throughput will be monitored in the trials, which will run from mid-October to the end of November in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

Quote: No one needs another dose of radiation, we get enough as it is. Is the state going to be there on your cancer death bed with insurance?

Hospital workers to walk off the job

Thousands of hospital workers across Queensland will walk off the job for at least two hours today as part of an ongoing wages dispute with the State Government.

Admin and clinical staff from at least ten major facilities including the Royal Brisbane and Womens' Hospitals and Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles will take part in the stoppage.

Queensland Public Sector Union spokesman Alex Scott says they have been forced into taking the drastic step.

"We are a minute from midnight in terms of a significant crisis because the Government is refusing to listen," he said.

Mr Scott says emergency cases will still be seen and some staff will remain at work.

The Premier Anna Bligh has warned public servants will be taken to the Industrial Commission if the strike is too disruptive.

"I don't expect we'll see any significant disruptions to services," Ms Bligh said.

The stoppage is due to begin at 11:30am AEST with workers to attend rallies around the state.