Indigenous inmate sues ACT government over ‘vile and racist’ image allegedly drawn by prison staff

Lawyers say whiteboard image of man hanging was a disrespectful, degrading and hurtful parody'

A vulnerable Indigenous inmate who prison officers allegedly depicted hanging from a noose on a prison whiteboard is suing the Australian Capital Territory government, alleging the drawing was a vile and racist caricature" of another Indigenous person they wished to see die in custody".

In May 2018, correctional officers at the ACT's jail, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, allegedly drew what appeared to be a game of hangman on a staff whiteboard. The man depicted hanging from the noose was an Indigenous inmate who has mental health issues and has previously attempted suicide.