STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator THORPE (Victoria—Independent VIC Whip) (13:48): Breathing fresh air and seeing the sky is a basic human right enshrined in international law and in the Victorian charter of human rights. Just last month, the Victorian government introduced their 'no air in prison bill', which strips people of this right. This bill legalises inhumane treatment in contravention of Victoria's own human rights charter.

It means people in prison won't have guaranteed access to go outside for fresh air and the government cannot be held accountable for this cruel treatment. Proud Wiradjuri woman Kelly Flanagan, who has spent time in Dame Phyllis Frost women's prison, has said: Being locked in a two-by-three metre cement cell with no hope of coming out, despair, psychological distress and hopelessness will wreak havoc on women's mental state.

It will create unsafe conditions for officers as well as women. Days ago, an 18-year-old woman died in the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre after repeated lockdowns. My heart goes out to her family.

Instead of ensuring this doesn't happen again, the Victorian government is passing laws that will make conditions worse and disproportionately harm First Peoples. People in prisons are our brothers, sisters, parents and children. The trauma they experience in prison follows them home and impacts families and communities.

That's why we need a federal human rights act in this country and to set minimum standards for these prisons which are torturing children, women and people. The federal government has the power to act. Do so.