Because two states won't grant them free access to detention facilities, a United Nations organization that monitors acts of torture has canceled a trip to Australia.
After New South Wales and Queensland denied access to some facilities, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) postponed its October visit.
As of right now, it claims that not enough progress has been made to permit full access.
The cancellation has caused disappointment on the part of the Australian government.
The SPT, a group of impartial human rights specialists, was tasked with examining Australia's compliance with a protocol intended to outlaw torture and other cruel or inhumane treatment.
The participation of the nation in this was authorized by the federal government in 2017 and enables SPT members to go unannounced visits to jails, police stations, and other detention facilities.
Suzanne Jabbour, the chairwoman of the SPT, has stated that despite Australia's cooperation, there was no other option but to "terminate the visit as the issue of unrestricted access to all places of deprivation of liberty in two states has not yet been resolved.".
It was further stated by the SPT that it "could not ascertain that it would be able to resume its visit in a reasonable timeframe.".
The decision was deeply regretted by the government and did not reflect the nation's "commitment to protecting and promoting human rights," according to a spokesperson for Australia's federal Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus.
The SPT visits, he continued, had been successful in every other Australian state.
Since October, Queensland has made some strides toward granting the UN access to inpatient mental health wards, which had previously been prohibited due to privacy concerns.
Parliament is right now considering a bill that would eliminate legal restrictions.
According to Mark Speakman, the attorney general of New South Wales, his administration had "consistently indicated" support for the protocol.
The state imposed access restrictions to prisons in October, and the corrections minister at the time told the local media that officers at one facility had been justified in refusing inspectors access because they lacked the proper authorization.
Geoff Lee said, "It's really unnecessary for the UN to come and demand to get into our jails," adding that the state had nothing to conceal.
Meanwhile, the cancellation of the visit was "neither unexpected nor undeserved," according to Australia's human rights commissioner.
According to Lorraine Finlay of ABC News, Australia has not taken this matter as seriously as it should.
"I think there's no question that it hurts our reputation," Ms. Finlay said.
Australia aspires to be a leader in the world when it comes to promoting human rights, but when we don't uphold our own international obligations, it's really difficult to assume that role.
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