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Anonymous

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Jessy7

I was recently released from a Victorian prison on parole (for the second time). You see, I was breached and my parole was cancelled. I have still not received any explanation as to why my parole was cancelled.

At the time of the cancellation (early this year) I was working full time in a great job and had just recently graduated (post graduate) from university.
Prior to that I was studying, working and living on campus of a highly reputable university (all with the knowledge and consent of the Adult parole board). I had not committed any offense (since the original conviction nearly 20 years ago) and am held in high regard in my community. I had been on parole for 4.5 years with only 6 months remaining. As such, within my community of friends and colleagues my past crime was just that, "in the past", and rarely if ever spoken about.

I now find my self with parole reporting conditions 16 times more frequent than before I was breached, rendering it impossible for me to undertake full time work of any sort. In fact, quite legitimately I am not eligible for unemployment benefits as a result of not having the time to work full time.
Nor am I entitled to any other Government financial support benefit.

To add to the insult, though I have never had positive urine test ever, including the very long time that I had served in prison, and do not have any drug related history. I also now have to provide weekly urinalysis and am place on call for random urinalysis.

Further more, the time (4.5 years) I spent on my last parole was not counted toward my sentence and my parole period was reset to start again. 5 more years! And all this (and more ...) after having served nearly another year in prison, still with no reason given at all by the Adult Parole Board.

Close to 1 million dollars was the cost to the tax payer to take me out of a normal and healthy life where I was a contributing citizen, to bring me to spending my days attending community corrections and the like and peeing in a cup on demand (also at the tax payers expense).

I expect that many of you will think that there must be more to the story. Perhaps I am leaving something out or that I am full of ****. This cant be true.

I can assure any doubters that the information that I have provided is accurate. I can and will happily provide a means by which the above information can be confirmed.

However my reason for writing here is that I am hopping to find others that have experienced or know of such situations.

In an effort to determine what has happened in my circumstances I have come across a major stumbling block. It turns out that the Adult Parole Board has be granted an Exemption from Human Rights and are also Exempt from Freedom of Information. Thus making it nearly impossible to determine the processes by which the board makes decisions and subsequently rendering it impossible to contest. There are no formal review processes (currently) with the Adult parole board.

I have been able to find that the Exemption that was granted to the Parole Board expires next year.

I am seeking groups and individuals that have grounds, supporting documentation or personal interest (as myself) to stop the Parole Board obtaining a renewed grant of these Exemptions.

I have made headway with this effort, but would greatly benefit from further community support.

I would be happy to further discuss this situation and provide documentation and information that I have been able to put together in the few week since I've came back home.

Please let me know if you have any interest in this matter or can contribute.

----------
The following is a recent email received in reply to an inquiry concerning the above. I stress that this matter is a concern for all Victorian prisoners and their loved one.
----------

Dear Sir,

The Adult Parole Board is not subject to freedom of information as it is not a prescribed authority under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. In Re Clarkson and Office of Corrections (1989) 4 VAR 1, the Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal found that the Adult Parole Board (“APB”) was not a prescribed body under the FOI Act.

This was taken from page 142 of "Guidelines to the Information Privacy Principles" issued by the Privacy Commisioner. This pdf document is available at:
(cant post link in forum. Please request)

In addition:

Aside from these reporting requirements, the Adult Parole Board is not subject to many of the checks and balances usually applicable to bodies with decision-making power within the executive arm of government. No formal internal performance audits are conducted. Meeting with Adult Parole Board (22 November 2011). The Board is currently exempt (until 27 December 2013) from compliance with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (Public Authorities) Regulations 2009 (Vic) reg 6. The Adult Parole Board is also exempt from investigation by the Ombudsman, Ombudsman Act 1973 (Vic) s 13(3)(aa). and it is exempt from the state’s freedom of information laws. Adult Parole Board of Victoria (2011), above n 47, 50. Board decisions are not appellable, although they are subject to limited judicial review. Judicial review is discussed in Chapter 3 at [3.122]–[3.134]. There is further discussion of internal reviews (by the Board) in Chapter 4.

This is from: (cant post link in forum. Please request)

I hope this assists you.

Kind Regards

Nigel Gan
--------------------------------
Freedom of Information
Executive Services Branch Level 24, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, 3000
GPO Box 4356 Melbourne VIC 3001

Phone: (03) 8684 8096
Fax: (03) 8684 0098
DX: 210077

 
Silas Sydenham

The Catholic Church in Australia : Official Website of the ACBC : Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
and go to [B]Social Justice Statement 2011-2012[/B]

 
smiley

Prisoners Rights: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Website

There are many that can be shared, but i am sure if you utilize the library links at your place of study you will find more scholarly articles and studies you seek.

 
Scarlett.S

Hello everyone, I have an assignment due where i am looking at the rights of prisoners and how in many cases these are not respected or upheld. Please post any links to academic or other information on this topic. Thankyou.

 
Silas Sydenham

This thread should be deleted, all the information and comment on it is so out-of-date.
The refugee detention centres have become Australia's horror prisons.
At Ararat, the disabled prisoners' cells are still routinely hosed out with high-pressure hoses, WITH THE INMATES STILL IN THEM

 
whitediamonds

[COLOR=blue]I still do not see any bashing of anyones country going on from US members here toward others country. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=blue]Use the triangle with the red outline and yellow center if there is, will report it to all administration here. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#0000ff]We share news articles around the world, and share opinions on that news. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=#0000ff]Also Welcome to the forum by the way.[/COLOR]

 
skye

Nope no adgenda, nor any intent apart from responding to whats posted.

I dont hate America, I have many amazing American friends and My Husband is also American but there seemed to be quite a lot of 'Australia bashing' going on and if you look at some of the responses others seem to think along the same lines as I do.

Is there time limit on responding to threads??

There has not been any bashing going on. If you feel that way you can report the post to the moderation team.

There is no time limit, but the user you are responding to is no longer here.

 
jaysbabe

Perhaps there is an agenda here. I'm believing so.

This is an old thread and Asha's has not posted in a long time. Perhaps you over looked that when going straight for a particular thread.

EVERY country has room for change, including yours. There is no such thing as a perfect country or perfect world. There is turmoil every where.

No country is exempt from needing change.

There has not been one USA member on this forum to bash another country. Yet, many seem to bash us.

That is okay because we are very proud people and accept that our country is not a perfect one, and do what we can to change it, even if that change moves in baby steps. We take it for what it is and consider the source and let it roll right off of our backs.

I am proud of where I come from, and where I live.

The intent here is quite obvious.

Nope no adgenda, nor any intent apart from responding to whats posted.

I dont hate America, I have many amazing American friends and My Husband is also American but there seemed to be quite a lot of 'Australia bashing' going on and if you look at some of the responses others seem to think along the same lines as I do.

Is there time limit on responding to threads??

 
skye

Perhaps there is an agenda here. I'm believing so.

This is an old thread and Asha's has not posted in a long time. Perhaps you over looked that when going straight for a particular thread.

EVERY country has room for change, including yours. There is no such thing as a perfect country or perfect world. There is turmoil every where.

No country is exempt from needing change.

There has not been one USA member on this forum to bash another country. Yet, many seem to bash us.

That is okay because we are very proud people and accept that our country is not a perfect one, and do what we can to change it, even if that change moves in baby steps. We take it for what it is and consider the source and let it roll right off of our backs.

I am proud of where I come from, and where I live.

The intent here is quite obvious.

 
whitediamonds

[COLOR=blue]Where in this thread did anyone bitterly criticised, anyone's country???[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]Seems every country has a past and a present with problems, including still racism, drugs and healthcare problems, crime etc,[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]To most all countries have further to go, not one lives in a perfect world.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]All countrys have good area's within them and bad area's too.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]No one on this forum from the USA, has ever bashed another country only speak of the good and the bad, the reality we all have and live in today.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]When it becomes one sided, it is obviously not fact. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#0000ff]Do not kow where or how long you were living in the US, but like any of us we are proud of our country and I am glad I live in the USA. Sorry you did not see both the good as well as the bad while you were here, I know I would if I visit anyones country.[/COLOR]

 
jaysbabe

I agree Skye. Not to mention that MANY of these atrocities have occurred in the last 40 years. I’m not saying that Australia is not a wonderful country. No one has ever said that. I’m sure Sydney is an incredible city and I would LOVE to visit there someday so I could get a very real perspective on some of these issues. My point was that it’s a little nicer if you are a wealthy white living there. If you are an indigenous person, eh, not so much.

Ah so you know many Indigenous Australians do you??? or Native Americans that might just feel the same about the US, actually there are many different races and cultures that live side by side, but there are still many areas that Australia needs to improve greatly and Ive talked about this at great lenghts with my Indigenous friends, work mates and many others.

After living in BOTH countries I have to say I would not like to raise my children in the US, and my Husbands an American and I really do actually like Americans but man does your country have further to go than anywhere else I have ever lived, and yes I have also lived in several countries in Europe. Including Scandinavia that have their own serious issues as all countires do.

Oh and Asha, Im white but Im not wealthy, I have a normal job that gives me a livable wage, good benefits, my government gives me health care and education and this is open to all Australians not just white wealthy people.
I have friends that are of all colours shapes and sizes, and yet it was in your country when I ws visiting my husband that I was aksed why I hung out with the hispanics and not with my own race??? This had me puzzled cause Ive never been asked that where I come from or in any state in Australia so I am stumped at how some can so bitterly criticise us??? Were not perfect, we've got a long way to go but Megsy and smiley what great posts and here some should learn from these not just simply criticise especailly if you have never even been here.

 
Hirani

Good God what a thread, how dare you people judge Australia, you guys have far more issues than we ever could!

 
smiley

Megsy just wanted to thank you for taking the time to post. I smiled knowing the things you shared, especially .........

There are many many blacks here who do not want interference from whites at all . And people from overseas see videos etc of black children covered in flies and naked and playing in the dirt and somehow come up with the word "poverty" and want to trounce in there and put clothes on them and feed them western food and make them go to school and then are shocked when they again take their clothing off throw away the food and pick up and leave the area.

That is the truth in FULL. Sometimes at first glance we get the wrong picture, until we actually care to take the time to learn and understand another, their culture and life without putting our own meanings into the equation. Enjoyed the read. :)

 
whiterose

[COLOR="Sienna"][B]thank you megsy for your input xxx whiterose.[/B][/COLOR]

 
megsy

Asha you want to go to Sydney to experience our culture? That's rather funny.:lol: I think you may want to expand your horizons a bit more. go a bit inwards and northwards if you want a clear understanding of our indigenous frineds.:)

Figures lie. When you want to put a particular agenda forward Statistics can be anything you want them to be, and show anything you want them to show.

To understand the unique cultures in Australia you have to understand each and every one of them. This takes time, a long time.

I grew up with our indigenous friends and I can tell you right now the average Australian is not a racist to the point of other nations (yes granted there is bickering sometimes) but we still had old laws on the books and old government understandings. Our prime minister was voted in one three major issues. One of which was "sorry day". and what's important to understand is that it was not australia or white australia that siad sorry....It was a sorry based on government policies. the government said sorry on behalf of the government. Our indigenous situation is a unique one, on the one hand you have blacks in the cities growing up white. and are being encouraged to find their black roots and culture. You also have to understand that there are still indigenous children outback who have never seen a white man. Then you have those caught in the middle of two very seperate cultures, who are neither one or the otherbut each culture forcing themselves on them

I can tell you right now that it takes triple the time to process a black than it does a white when arrested. Their are special cultural considerations to implement, and people that have to be contacted. and I can tell you right now that when an elder is woken at two in the morning he really couldn't give two hoots about having to advocate for the latest drunkeness of the offender . You'd be surprised at how hard they are on there own people.

We have a voluntary (prison/ court order holding area) where I live. It is purely indigenous and they can choose to be there or walk out. It's experimental at the moment and just to process any mishaps in that facility, there are firstly tribal representatives to contact, (because individuals can be from different tribes) then the elders and then the family representatives and spokesman. No one else in the entire country gets that kind of preferential treatment.

And no Skye the government does not impact the whole country. Australia doesn't work that way. There is very little outward patriotism, "and government knows best" in this country. That is not how we do things here. The majority of Australians were shocked at some of the information that came out ............it was covered up or hidden from us and the media.

My mother was one of those people who took in some of those so called stolen generation kids. Granted at one point in time there was wholesale taking of children but there was also neglect and infanticide in tribes that didn't like the mixed blood as well. It depended at one time in who's mob you were a part of.
There have been also circumstances of tribes mistreating their own and where recently the army was sent in to oversee some pretty major crisis situationsbrought on by themselves not whites. People say this is the governments fault for not allowing whites into closed communities. Our government decided to give some mobs exclusive rights to cut themselves off but then that turned into an out of site out of mind scenario. There are many many blacks here who do not want interference from whites at all . And people from overseas see videos etc of black children covered in flies and naked and playing in the dirt and somehow come up with the word "poverty" and want to trounce in there and put clothes on them and feed them western food and make them go to school and then are shocked when they agian take their clothing off throw away the food and pick up and leave the area.

So as you can see our problems are unique to us and it's not a 'one size fits all' situation. It just simply doesn't work that way.

And our government was deemed a racist government because of our immigration policies which will be phased out as well under this new government. The UN only criticsed us because our government at the time criticised another countrys indigenous policies.

May I suggest some reading , firstly "white fella black fella". To get a basis from history found in the forgotten Victorian state parliament archives in recent years. That should open your eyes a bit. Then there is "Mabo" and land rights. Then you need to investigate the Torres Strait Islander cultures and history which are different again. Youtube should have recordings of an aboriginal show called "message stick" i watch that show myself it's very informative and interesting.

Enslavement was mentioned earlier ..........well it's not a very huge leap to enslave aboriginals when most of the white population were enslaved as well and the basis of this countries foundations. Seems people tend to forget that.

And yeah Smiley:) I cried too. Like a baby

 
skye

I agree. Each country has it's flaws, and pretty much being wealthy anywhere doesn't hurt. . . but to have the treatment based upon your skin color is absurd. In current times, it really seems like they haven't evolved with time in that aspect.

I would really love to travel over there and experience their 'culture' with my own eyes, but I don't know if that day will come anytime soon. I have done pretty much all of our continent so, who knows where my journey to see the world will lead me next.

 
Anonymous

I agree Skye. Not to mention that MANY of these atrocities have occurred in the last 40 years. I’m not saying that Australia is not a wonderful country. No one has ever said that. I’m sure Sydney is an incredible city and I would LOVE to visit there someday so I could get a very real perspective on some of these issues. My point was that it’s a little nicer if you are a wealthy white living there. If you are an indigenous person, eh, not so much.

 
skye

I DO agree with Asha on this subject. Regardless of the age of the links, they do provide information that shows where Australia has at least been.

Even in present years, The UN deemed the Australian Government to be a racist government. To me, that act alone speaks volumes.

It really makes me wonder what life is really like, when your government is deemed to be that way. While I understand that racism is everywhere, It usually isn't the country, or the government that are deemed that way, but people who have views that are a bit off that are that way. I really wonder if ALL people are treated fairly over there, as the government and their views impact the whole country.

 
lulu

As of now, I am closing this thread For further Review.

 
smiley

Sorry i thought the point was something else, i thought we were trying to learn and understand each others countries, the laws, prisons and it's people.

Wanted to add...no edit button.......

And i am sorry if i have lead you to believe other wise.

 
smiley

The point and why this thread was even begun was to demonstrate that the US is not this horrible, evil empire who seeks nothing other than to brutalize its own people. Clearly, Australia has its share of problems as noted. People in glass houses should not throw rocks.

Sorry i thought the point was something else, i thought we were trying to learn and understand each others countries, the laws, prisons and it's people.
In every post i have made here, i have tried to convey to you that while the stats maybe correct in the links, many are out dated and have been improved on. I have shown this in links i have posted. Government spending in mental health is up over 22% on this years budget, Sorry Day reconciliation, how many are actually incarcerated. It is much more than the lip service you perceive it to be.

No where in my thought process do i think America an "evil empire." What i am trying to do is learn and i can only do that by asking questions, seeking opinions. But every time i do this it is seen in your eye's to be attacking America, throwing stones or trying to find fault.
Asha, i honestly think it wouldn't matter what i said to you, i feel your perception of me and my motives is not the same as how *I* feel about your country and those that reside their.

 
Anonymous

Sorry, cant edit here.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Aborigine child sex abuse 'rife'

 
Anonymous

Smiley, one of the articles you posted does not even carry a date on it. Another was written by the folks in Australia that clearly have a vested interest in not portraying all facts in an unbiased light. I told you if ANYTHING I have posted is incorrect, than by all means, please highlight what is untrue or misleading in any way. You have not done so yet unless I missed it.

The point and why this thread was even begun was to demonstrate that the US is not this horrible, evil empire who seeks nothing other than to brutalize its own people. Clearly, Australia has its share of problems as noted. People in glass houses should not throw rocks.

I can in fact understand the horrendous mistreatment your country has inflicted on its indigenous peoples because MY country has done the same to its American Indians. Surely you are familiar, at least partly with the despicable acts perpetrated upon them?? Conditions have vastly improved but we still have amends to make and problems to solve as far as that tentative relationship is concerned. So I have a complete understanding of your "sorry day."

But it takes more than a day off from work and some lip service doesn’t it? It requires ACKNOWLEDGMENT and ongoing adherence to correct a problem and make good on your words as Australian citizens. Clearly it deserves more than holidays but steadfast resolve and appreciation of the magnitude of the problem(s) in your country with the mistreatment of both your mentally disabled inmates and your aborigines. I was attempting to bring some information to light that demonstrates the need for CHANGE within your own country. In many ways, your crisis is reaching a breaking point. Eventually "sorry days" just wont cut it.

 
smiley

Asha, i can honestly say i understand your perception. What you have no knowledge of is these things you are bringing to the for front are very old. This one 8 years. That is not to say we are in anyway perfect and have come to a place where one can sit back and gloat about the acts of the people/government of one's country and those they imprison.
Australia has treated it's indigenous people horrendously over the course of it's history. We enslaved them, separated families, "stolen generation" even tried to breed the "black" out of them. I know our history well. But i also live here and i am aware of the changes we have been making over time to change and improve on that which we know was not only appalling treatment of those that belong to the land, but those who walked many years before us. We continue today to make amends, it is a work in progress. And i am happy to say that for all Indigenous Australians came a day of recognition by not only the people, by the government. It is called SORRY DAY. I am not ashamed to say i openly cried as did many Australians that understood the impact of the day. I don't expect you to understand when you are only reading off of facts, some that are misleading given the time frame and who produces them. All i have tried to do is give you a little more of a balanced look through what i see, know and experience first hand.

National Sorry Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The things you speak of Asha, have truth in some form. All i was trying to help you understand is how many people we really have here that are residing in Her Majesty's houses, or is it cells? :)

 
Anonymous

And hopefully this will help you.

Australia: A constitution lacking human rights gurantees is nothing to celebrate. - Amnesty International

 
smiley

Asha, this might put things in perspective for you where Australian Prison system and those incarcerated stand. Then you may have a better understanding of my comments. :)

4512.0 - Corrective Services, Australia, Dec 2007

 
Anonymous

Prison Population and Overcrowding

"Prison overcrowding reflects two factors: the number of prisoners and the capacity of prisons. In most jurisdictions, the increase in prison capacity has not kept pace with the increase in prisoner numbers. For example, in Australia, most jurisdictions are expanding their prison capacity but overcrowding remains a problem."

Taken from your own article. Yes I agree. I also have here at least a dozen more articles but it hardly seems necessary. The point being that the US is clearly not the "evil empire" and of course, as you can see, Australia has its issues to contend with, primarily the abuse and unsatisfactory conditions of its mentally disabled, compromised or retarded prison inmates. Not to mention the issue that STILL remains a problem, the overwhelming disparage between your indigenous peoples behind bars and their abuse as compared with your white citizens. It is troubling.

 
smiley

RACGP | Securing care for patients in prison

Introduction

Thought these links were also worth a look, but like you say Asha there is a lot of info out their, but i guess it matters not if those in society are not willing to stand up for the rights of others that have little or no voice.

Here in Australia the Federal budget has just been released by the Government. Overall the government will spend $4.5 billion for health care, with 22.7 percent more for mental Health. which can only be a good thing. :)

 
Anonymous

Of course. I know that one article is outdated but you will notice many endnotes there that our current from which they are gathering their information. You are more than welcome to find anything that is untrue or misleading of course. I would have been under the presumption, as you stated, working in the mental health care field in some capacity, you would be up to date on all of this?

Of course none of this information is meant to antagonize but simply inform. It appears your problems are quite serious and REQUIRE your citizens to take a closer look as to what is occurring under you very noses. We should ALL try to refrain from throwing stones so to speak. I was truly shocked by some of this information I discovered as I thought, as you did, that Australia and NZ were fairly unproblematic by comparison to the US. I noticed that was your thinking on your other post. Well, as you say, we learn a bit each day and we are here to help each other.

 
smiley

Asha thanks for the links, only problem is the latter info is 20 years old 1988, and did you know we do NOT have super Max prisons in all of our states? Honestly our system here should not earn any brownie points, but i really i don't think we can compare apples to oranges. Our systems is so different to yours on so many levels. We have many gapping cracks that need to be fixed for sure, no question.
It is good to look at other countries and see how they run things, including the injustices in my own country. Did you know America at the moment is leading the way in Japan, and helping them(hands on) over haul their Judicial system? It is amazing to see what is taking place, real reform and hopefully a fairer system for everyone. It is amazing how other cultures deal with crime in society.