SA First Nations Voice to Parliament Moogy Sumner silenced after discovering horrific Robert William Junior Barnes incident at Yatala Labour Prison

A member of the SA First Nations Voice says he has been banned from visiting a prisoner who “chewed” his finger off in a horrific incident.

An Aboriginal elder and member of SA’s First Nations Voice to Parliament says he’s been banned from visiting a Yatala Labour Prison solitary unit after he discovered an inmate had “chewed” his own finger off in a horrific act of self-harm.

Uncle Moogy Sumner said he was banned from visiting inmate Robert William Junior Barnes, 39, at Yatala Labour Prison’s notorious G Division because he was a member of the Voice advisory-body.

Barnes’, who has been locked in a small cell for 23 hours a day for “almost 800 days”, has “chewed his pinky down to the knuckle”, Uncle Moogy says.

Uncle Moogy was banned from visiting inmate Robert Barnes, 39, Yatala Labour Prison’s G Division. Picture: Brenton Edwards

After learning of his condition, Uncle Moogy said he raised concerns about Barnes’ injuries and welfare with other Voice members, after Barnes had also attempted suicide on at least two occasions recently, and threatened to slit his own throat on the next attempt.

“He’s saying that he’s going to make a better job next time, he’s gonna cut his (own) throat, he’s gonna kill himself,” Uncle Moogy told The Advertiser.

Yatala inmate Robert William Junior Barnes chewed his own finger off after 700 days in isolation

Former Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Yatala Labour Prison Melanie Turner says she was "targeted" and "bullied" out of her role after she advocated for Uncle Moogy.

“So, I told all of them (Voice members) at the meeting, then it got to one of the Aboriginal workers (at Yatala), and then she, this is what I heard, she said that I’m gonna be barred.

“I believe that was the reason why I was banned, because I went and spoke to the Voice.”

After informing other members about Barnes, a former Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) at the prison, said the prison had indeed banned Uncle Moogy from visiting the unit because he spoke to Voice members about Barnes.

Melanie Turner, who started working at the prison in September as an ALO, said she felt “bullied” and was “pushed out” of her role last month, after she advocated for reversing Uncle Moogy’s ban.

Ms Turner said she felt “targeted” by officials at the Yatala prison over the issue.

She said she was called to a meeting at the prison where she was told Uncle Moogy wasn’t going to be allowed in because he spoke about Barnes to Voice members.

Barnes was transferred to G Division after he threw a cup of urine in the face of a prison officer at Port Augusta prison in 2021.

A standard cell at Yatala Labor Prison G division. 20-05-2007 NEWS:

Visiting area in G Division of Yatala Labour Prison. 20 May 2007.

He was jailed for over a decade after a fight that left a prison officer in hospital suffering a fractured eye socket and requiring surgery.

Eligible for parole in 2027, Uncle Moogy said the prison had not given Barnes any opportunity to rehabilitate.

The Advertiser sent questions to the Correctional Services Minister, Emily Bourke, and the Department for Correctional Services (DCS), asking why Uncle Moogy was banned from Yatala.

The Advertiser also asked if he was within his rights as an elected member to raise concerns about the welfare of inmate Barnes with other elected members.

A government spokesperson told The Advertiser that they could not comment on individual prisoners, but said some prisoners’ “needs and requirements” were not always “appropriate” for certain visitors (Uncle Moogy).

“We appreciate the important role elders and Aboriginal visitors play in supporting Aboriginal prisoners,” a spokesperson said.

“We look forward to Uncle Moogy continuing his valuable work.

“First Nations Voice members have a key role in advocating for improvements in our justice system and the Government will continue to work with members to enable them to give further advice.”

South Australian Attorney General Kyam Maher, Governor Frances Adamson, Premier Peter Malinauskas and deputy Premier Susan Close sign the bill creating Australia’s first Voice to Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

SA Voice to Parliament was a key election policy by the Malinauskas government in the lead up to the 2022 state election, and passed both houses of parliament in March 2023.

It was designed to function as a direct line of communication with the state’s parliament and government, with aims to ensure First Nations voices are heard on matters that affect them.

The DCS and state government has told The Advertiser that Uncle Moogy was not banned from G Division, but only from visiting inmate Barnes.

Uncle Moogy said he has not been able to return to G Division to visit any inmates since his banning.