APONT condemns ‘shocking human rights violations’ in Alice Springs watch house

Two Aboriginal women have described ‘shocking’ conditions inside an NT watch house, claiming to have been kept in a cramped, hot, smelly, and unsanitary cell, left to go hungry and without medication.

Two women have detailed “disgusting” conditions inside the Alice Springs watch house. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Two Aboriginal women have described “disgusting” conditions inside a Northern Territory watch house, claiming to have been kept for weeks in a cramped, hot, smelly, and unsanitary cell, left to go hungry and without medication.

Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT (APONT) condemned the “shocking violation of human rights”, and called on the government to act urgently amid the ongoing corrections crisis and record number of Territorians behind bars.

Deanna, 30, and Simone, 35, both detailed their weeks spent at the Alice Springs watch house in affidavits seen by this masthead.

“Some days there are nearly 20 women in a cell,” Deanna said in her statement.

“When there are this many we have to share a mattress as there is not enough room for everyone to have a mattress.

“The cell really stinks and is disgusting, you cannot get away from the smell.

“We don’t get to go outside and do not get any exercise. We don’t get fresh air at all.

“Sometimes the lights are on at night. There are arguments every day between the women.”

Simone said breakfast was three Weetbix and six sugars, mixed with water from above the often-clogged toilet.

“I am hungry all the time,” she said.

Simone was kept in the watch house for more than eight weeks.

Simone was kept in the watch house for more than eight weeks after her arrest on November 28, except for six nights in hospital due pain in her back and concern about her kidneys.

She said doctors discharged her from hospital with a number of tablets to take, and communication was not clear about her ongoing healthcare.

“There were no notes (with my possessions), but my lawyer found some medication which I had not been receiving,” she said.

“I have often asked for pain medication but have only ever been given one Panadol at 5pm when it’s convenient to the nurse.”

She was also instructed to rinse her mouth after every use of her puffer, but was sometimes unable to do so as the only source of water was above the toilet shared by up to 20 women.

“This is disgusting and the sink is often filled with sick and other people’s saliva,” she said.

The women were forced to walk past male detainees on the way to access the showers, causing cultural shame.”

Dr John Paterson, Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APONT) convenor and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) chief executive. Picture: Supplied/Lisa Hatz Photography.

APONT said conditions in the watch houses violated multiple international human rights standards, the United Nations “Bangkok Rules” for women prisoners, and the NT Government’s commitment to improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians.

“Regardless of your political views on justice, we must all draw the line at allowing this degradation of humanity, of health and of culture, to exist within our community,” convener Dr John Paterson said.

“No one deserves to be deprived of basic healthcare or denied access to clean drinking water. It is unacceptable, discriminatory and harmful, and has no place in the Territory or in Australia.

“The government has an obligation to ensure that those incarcerated are treated with dignity and have access to essential services, healthcare, and culturally appropriate rehabilitation to break cycles of disadvantage and imprisonment. Right now, it is clearly failing to uphold that commitment.”

NT Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley and NT Corrections Assistant Commissioner Michael Hebb in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

NT Corrections Minister Gerard Maley was contacted for comment.

On January 28 Simone pleaded guilty to going armed in public and aggravated assault, and was sentenced to four months in prison, immediately suspended with a good behaviour bond.

Deanna is now on bail after first being arrested on January 13, and will return to court next month. She has been charged with six offences including drug possession, assaulting a police officer and using a motor vehicle without consent.

Originally published as APONT condemns ‘shocking human rights violations’ in Alice Springs watch house