UN asked to investigate ‘terrible’ NT prison conditions

An independent politician in the Northern Territory has written to the United Nations asking for officials to investigate ‘terrible’ jail conditions in the wake of a record number of people currently incarcerated.

Arnhem Land politician Yiŋiya Guyula said he had requested a visit from the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“There are 18 people stuffed into a cell and many people are sleeping on the floor without bedding,” Mr Guyula told the ABC.

“Access to showers is only happening every four or more days, the lights are on all the time so people can’t sleep.”

Requests to visit jails and watch houses has allegedly been denied by the NT Government, who denied services were being withheld from prisoners.

NT First Minister Lia Finocchiaro told ABC News the prisons “were not designed to be holiday camps”.

“This is a prison for people who have done the wrong thing,” she said.

Currently, according to NT Government figures, 2658 prisoners are being held in jails and watch houses, with more than 400 additional people locked up since the CLP won the Territory election last year.