MP's prison visit blocked

SYDNEY — On March 23, NSW Labor and Coalition MPs voted to deny a request by Greens parliamentarian Lee Rhiannon to join a NSW Legislative Council inquiry visit to the "Supermax" (maximum security) wing of the Goulburn prison.

"The major parties have ganged up to frustrate scrutiny of conditions at the Supermax, where five terror suspects are being kept without trial for indefinite periods and inmates are segregated by race", independent MLC Peter Breen said in a media release issued by Rhiannon on March 23. The Greens MLC said it was the first time to her knowledge that members of a NSW parliamentary inquiry have voted against another MP joining them. The motion opposing her request was moved by Labor MLC Eddie Obeid.

Dale Mills

From Green Left Weekly, April 5, 2006.

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From GLW issue 663