Australian Prisoners' Union formed

By Sean Healy

On July 17, prisoners' rights activists launched a new organisation, the Australian Prisoners' Union. The launch took place at the 15th anniversary function for Breakout, a design and printing company in Sydney founded by former prisoners.

APU is the first organisation of its kind in Australia. The union's purpose is to represent and advance the interests of prisoners and paroled prisoners. Its founding statement says: “Fundamental human rights do not end at the prison gate. Society must acknowledge that prisoners are members of our communities, who will return to those communities after incarceration.”

APU has identified a large range of issues it will address. These include a lack of legal aid, payment of proper employment entitlements for work performed within prison, freedom of association for prisoners, an end to invasive searches of visitors and improved prisoner access to rehabilitation, educational and information resources.

APU is also taking a stand against “the industrialisation of prisons as low-wage sweatshops and centres for private profit”. It argues that this “can be opposed by the unionisation of prisoners”.

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