Convicted murderer Andre McKechnie launches legal action over Vegemite ban in jail
A convicted murderer is an unhappy little Vegemite after being banned from eating the Aussie pantry staple in jail. Now he’s launched legal action, claiming he is being prevented from “enjoying his culture”.
A convicted murderer has launched a legal fight to overturn a ban on him eating Vegemite behind bars which he claims has breached his human rights by denying him his Australian culture.
Andre McKechnie has filed legal action against the Department of Justice and Community Safety and Corrections Victoria, claiming no access to the Aussie favourite has stopped him from “enjoying his culture”.
McKechnie was originally sentenced to life in prison – with a non-parole period of 15 years – for a murder in Queensland in the 1990s.
The latest in a series of lawsuits since his incarceration, McKechnie is suing the secretary to the DJCS and the commissioner of Corrections Victoria for allegedly breaching the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act and the Corrections Act.
In his statement of claim before the Supreme Court of Victoria, McKechnie alleges that he was refused a request to “no longer be prohibited from consuming Vegemite”.
It is understood Vegemite has been banned in Victorian prisons under the ‘Contraband and Controlled Items’ policy since November 2006 following claims it interferes with narcotic detection dogs – a claim McKechnie now rejects.
He also alleges that by prohibiting him from eating Vegemite, and failing to provide adequate food to maintain his wellbeing, he can’t enjoy his “culture as an Australian”.
McKechnie is seeking several declarations from the court, including that the DJCS and Correction Victoria denied him certain rights under the human rights charter.
He is also seeking to reverse the ban on Vegemite, as well as associated costs.
In response to the lawsuit, shadow Corrections minister David Southwick said the prison system was about safety, discipline and rehabilitation, not acting as a “hotel” for inmates.
“Victorians who work hard and do the right thing are fed up with seeing violent offenders use the courts for trivial complaints,” Mr Southwick said.
“The government must get serious about managing our prisons responsibly.”
He added that every time a prisoner tied up the courts with a “frivolous case”, taxpayers were left to foot the bill.
Victims of crime advocate John Herron – whose daughter Courtney was murdered in a Melbourne park in 2019 – agreed, saying frivolous lawsuits filed from behind bars were an “absolute waste of resources”.
“Every time victims see inmates apply for special privileges, it is an affront to us and the wider community,” he said.
McKechnie has launched a series of legal battles against the DJCS and Corrections Victoria since 2019, bouncing between Loddon Prison, the Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ravenhall Correctional Centre and now at Port Phillip Prison.
In September 2021, McKechnie sued the State of Victoria for allegedly forcing or coercing him into eating food which did not “conform to kashrut law”, or Jewish dietary laws.
McKechnie told the Supreme Court that he had been unable to eat 90 per cent of the food provided to him because of his religious beliefs.
He went on to suggest that he was given food falsely presented as kosher, adding that the State did so for the purpose of “psychologically grooming prisoners into physical and emotional compliance with the power of the prison”.
The matter was ultimately thrown out.
The DJCS and Corrections Victoria said they were unable to comment as the matter was currently before the court.
Victoria’s Picky Prisoners
McKechnie is one of several Victorian prisoners who have kicked up a stink about prison food in recent years.
*Earlier this year, crime boss George Marrogi told prison management he was on a strict hunger strike until he received a better selection of food.
The Herald Sun revealed Marrogi, who had converted from Christianity to Judaism while behind bars, complained there was no special spend or canteen system that included at least “a dozen items” for Jewish prisoners.
Marrogi specifically listed kosher tuna, salami and cheese as preferred options.
*Loddon Prison inmate Paul Rodgerson sued the state for allegedly providing dodgy prison food that lacked “variety”, nutritional value and failed to meet hisreligious dietary requirements.
Rodgerson took his case to the Victorian Supreme Court, alleging “inadequate” food led to weight-loss, insomnia and exacerbated anxiety and mood between April and September in 2024. His statement of claim was struck out in March this year, with the Justice granting him leave to re-plead his allegations of negligence.
*A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting supermarket staff interrupted a Magistrate to demand McDonald’s during his time behind bars, complaining that he couldn’t live off prison salads.
Billy Koskinas, who had pleaded guilty to assault and stalking charges in January, interrupted proceedings several times to complain about his prolonged sentencing, telling the court he was “not getting any younger”.
He told the court: “I need food, I’m hungry. I need to go home … I need chicken and chips, I need McDonald’s. I can’t liveon salads”.
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Originally published as Convicted murderer Andre McKechnie launches legal action over Vegemite ban in jail
