SA’s corrections department has been served with legal action for refusing a pre-election newspaper designed for prisoners

A group representing Australian inmates has given the corrections department a deadline to reverse its decision block a pre-election newsletter for prisoners.

A group representing Australian inmates says it is prepared to take the state’s corrections department to court after SA became the only state to block a pre-election newsletter

SA Corrections has been threatened with legal action for not accepting a pre-election newspaper for prisoners. Picture: supplied

The newsletter, JUST US, is produced by Justice Action, which represents prisoners, with 40,0000 copies of the recent edition distributed to Australian prisons on April 20.

Justice Action Co-ordinator Brett Collins said the newsletter was sent out nationally, and South Australia’s Department for Correctional Services was the only state department to refuse the publication.

Mr Collins said Allens legal firm had given the DCS’ chief executive officer David Brown until close of business Thursday to reverse the decision and allow the prisoners to access it.

“If he still refuses, they will file SA Supreme Court proceedings on Friday morning arguing the constitutional right to access,” Mr Collins said.

A Supreme Court hearing will be held in SA on Friday, May 13.

“We think it’s entirely unfair for the prisoners not to access the material, they’re entitled to make an informed decision when they cast their votes, they are equally enrolled to vote as are all citizens.”

Yatala Prison. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

In the most recent edition of JUST US, all political parties presented their policies about detainees’ access to law as well as information from five state prison commissioners.

The newsletter has been distributed before every federal election since 2004.

“JUST US is a unique exercise in social inclusion,” Mr Collins said.

“It is constitutionally protected as expressing the entitlement of political parties to communicate with citizens everywhere.

“Additionally it carries the right of people in prisons and locked hospital wards to engage in the political process and cast an informed vote.”

A department spokeswoman said: “The department facilitates prisoner voting in a fair, neutral and unbiased manner and is committed to ensuring that all eligible prisoners are able to vote in the upcoming federal election.

“The department will respond to the law firm representing Justice Action accordingly.”

It follows a riot at Yatala Prison last month as the centre went into lockdown due to absent prison guards affected by Covid.