NSW’s refusal to allow UN inspectors in prisons ‘raises questions’, human rights commissioner says

Guardian Australia understands the New South Wales government plans to refuse UN inspectors entry until they reach an agreement with the federal government. Photograph: Murray Mccloskey/AAP

Australia’s human rights commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, has questioned why the New South Wales government was blocking officials from the UN inspecting its jails if it was confident about meeting minimum standards.

She said the NSW move could jeopardise promises made by Australia as part of the UN’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (Opcat) that was ratified by the federal government under former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017.