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An investigation has been launched after an Aboriginal woman on remand in Canberra’s jail alleged she was strip searched by guards in full view of male detainees. The woman, who is a sexual abuse survivor and has serious health conditions, wrote a letter outlining the allegations to Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service chief executive Julie Tongs. Ms Tongs said the woman became upset when she was told she wasn’t able to go to her grandmother’s funeral and became “very distressed and started to act out”. “That is not the way you respond to a person that has serious health issues,” she told ABC Radio Canberra. Ms Tongs said she was made aware of the issue by an unknown source before the woman sent her the letter. “I was appalled,” she said. “To do that to anybody is just unbelievable”. Ms Tongs said the fact the woman was on remand made the allegations “more disturbing”. She wrote to Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman and the Human Rights Commission on January 21, calling for an investigation into the alleged incident. Mr Gentleman has confirmed the Human Rights Commission has commenced an investigation. “ACT Correctional Services will provide full assistance to HRC during this process,” Mr Gentleman told the ABC. “These allegations are of quite a serious nature and they’ll be thoroughly reviewed by ACT Correctional Services.” The Discrimination Commissioner Karen Toohey cannot comment due to privacy constraints. Ms Tongs said racism was rife in the centre, referring to it as “common knowledge right across the sector”. “Until we address that, nothing is ever going to change,” she said. Mr Gentleman said Ms Tongs’ allegations of racism would be investigated.
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An investigation has been launched after an Aboriginal woman on remand in Canberra’s jail alleged she was strip searched by guards in full view of male detainees.
The woman, who is a sexual abuse survivor and has serious health conditions, wrote a letter outlining the allegations to Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service chief executive Julie Tongs.
Ms Tongs said the woman became upset when she was told she wasn’t able to go to her grandmother’s funeral and became “very distressed and started to act out”.
“That is not the way you respond to a person that has serious health issues,” she told ABC Radio Canberra.
Ms Tongs said she was made aware of the issue by an unknown source before the woman sent her the letter.
“I was appalled,” she said. “To do that to anybody is just unbelievable”.
Ms Tongs said the fact the woman was on remand made the allegations “more disturbing”.
She wrote to Corrections Minister Mick Gentleman and the Human Rights Commission on January 21, calling for an investigation into the alleged incident.
Mr Gentleman has confirmed the Human Rights Commission has commenced an investigation.
“ACT Correctional Services will provide full assistance to HRC during this process,” Mr Gentleman told the ABC.
“These allegations are of quite a serious nature and they’ll be thoroughly reviewed by ACT Correctional Services.”
The Discrimination Commissioner Karen Toohey cannot comment due to privacy constraints.
Ms Tongs said racism was rife in the centre, referring to it as “common knowledge right across the sector”.
“Until we address that, nothing is ever going to change,” she said.
Mr Gentleman said Ms Tongs’ allegations of racism would be investigated.
