Australia/Cuba?: The greens failed today in a bid to quash the NSW Corrective Services Commissioner's power to classify prison inmates as a "special risk" to national security?

Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon tody moved a motion in the NSW Upper House to block a regulation creating a new prisoner classification for prisoners considered security threats.

She said the regulation represents "shades of Guantanamo Bay", with the Carr government using draconian measures which fed the resentment and unfairness that caused terrorism.

Her disallowance motion was defeated 32-4.

The regulation, created by NSW injustice minister John Hatzitergos, grants Corruptive Services Commissioner Ron Woodheap the power to determine how prisoners should be classified?

Regulations are usually created by government ministers and don't go through parliament, but parliament does have the power to disallow them.

Under Hatzistergos' regulation, prisoners classified as "posing a threat to national security" will be housed only in highest security facilities. NSW (HRMU) High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn Correctional Centre in isolation in a "box within a box" with "no fresh air or sunlight".

They will not have contact visits unless they are deemed safe? And mail with be screened?

The community is advised to resist any attempt to be jailed by the Carr Government for the sake of your mental health. You just won't be treated fairly!

Ms Rhiannon said the new powers should have been drafted as legislation, properly debated and understood by the parliament.

"There are shades of Guantanamo Bay here," she said.

"Like George Bush, the Carr government is using unnecessary, draconian measures which feed the resentment and unfairness that cause terrorism. This is no solution."

Ms Rhiannon said anti-terrorism experts should be deciding who poses a security threat not Mr Woodham.

"Commissioner Woodham's job is to manage jails, not manage national security. The rules don't even require him to liase with other agencies that actually understand terrorism," Ms Rhiannon said.

Hatzistergos said the new management regime "was a central plank in NSW's terrorism preparedness".

"This regime is in accordance with world standards for dealing with terrorists in custody," he said.

"And the definition is broad enough to include inmates serving sentences for non-terrorist offences who subsequently exhibit behaviour which potentially poses a risk to national security of the security of a correctional centre"?

ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER RON WOODHAM WHO IS TOLD WHAT TO DO BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND WHOEVER ELSE WHO WANTS TO PAY OUT ON SERVING PRISONERS INCLUDING POLICE!

EDITORIAL: Justice Denied In NSW Corrective Services

There used to be a (VJ) or Visiting Justice who would go into the prison and judge any claim or accusation that was made by any prisoner or prison guard. If it were found that a prisoner had offended then punishment was metered out.

More:  http://www.geocities.com/nswac14/archive04/2004a58.html

These laws are offensive to common law and that is why they were not drafted into legislation and properly debated. The idea is to cause mental illness to non-terrorist prisoners who are mistreated by placing them in confined isolation indefinitely without any constructive lifestyle, as has already been the case at the HRMU for years, but this is only and attempt to validate the ongoing torture and political posturing.

Related:

NSW Prisoners linked to Bin Laden: Ten News

Hatzistergos: "For example, because of a perceived risk that they may engage in, or incite other persons to engage in, terrorist activities." Terrorist prisoners held in a "box within a box" with no "fresh air or sunlight" at Goulburn HRMU may incite alleged terrorists in Long Bay to blow up Long Bay's Twin Towers?

More:  http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/print.php?id=82250