Shame in our backyard

The following story about Aboriginal Australia – especially in the wake of the current outrage over violence in Aboriginal communities – has received virtually no coverage:

Australia has violated the rights of a 16-year-old Aboriginal boy kept in isolation without clothes and blankets in a New South Wales adult prison, the United Nations has found.

Corey Brough, who has a mild intellectual disability, was 16 when he took part in a riot at the Kariong Juvenile Detention Centre in March, 1999.

After the riot, he was transferred to an adult prison, Parklea Correctional Centre, and kept in isolation, given anti-psychotic drugs, and had all his clothing removed.

He was allegedly held in a cell by himself under continuous artificial lighting for up to three days at a time.

Within eight days of arriving at the adult prison, Brough had “self-harmed”.… 

This is not simply a law and order issue.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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