25 Oct 2022

Australia criticised for obstructing United Nations delegates

From Morning Report, 8:26 am on 25 October 2022

Australia has come under heavy criticism for obstructing United Nations delegates, there to visit prisons and detention centres.

Under the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Australia is a party, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is supposed to have unfettered access to prisons.

But they came up against opposition in Queensland and NSW - where migrants including New Zealanders can be held in detention centres indefinitely.

Amnesty International Australia's impact director Tim O'Connor has called the debacle an "international embarassment".

He spoke to Corin Dann.