‘Inhumane’ Alice Springs watch house conditions called out

Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APO NT) has called out conditions inside the Alice Springs watch house a “violation of multiple human rights”.

Rising prisoner numbers has seen conditions so bad some inmates are sharing mattresses in their cells.

“We’re calling on governments that it must stop,” APO NT convenor John Paterson told the ABC.

“No one deserves to be deprived of basic health care or denied access to clean drinking water.

“It is unacceptable, discriminatory and harmful, and has no place in the territory or in Australia.”

Prisoners have described cells that stink, blocked toilets and generally unhygienic conditions with fights often breaking out.

NT Deputy Chief Minister and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said hygiene checks for prisoners were conducted daily, including cleaning of toilets and sinks.

“A 96-bed modular section at Alice Springs Correctional Centre is about to come online, and we are preparing to move female prisoners into new accommodation at Alice Springs,” he said.

Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy noted the report and said the government was watching the situation closely.