Crossbenchers call for federal intervention after ‘deeply shocking’ revelations about prison deaths

Independents and Greens say national leadership needed after Guardian investigation reveals death toll from hanging points known to authorities

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Key crossbenchers have called for the federal government to intervene to drive reforms to state prison systems after revelations that 57 Australians died from hanging points that were known to authorities but not removed.

A Guardian Australia investigation on Tuesday revealed that inaction to remove known hanging points from 19 prisons across the country had caused a shocking death toll, more than 30 years after state governments promised to make prisons safe in the wake of the Aboriginal deaths in custody royal commission.