>
> Dear Friends,
>
> We invite all to help in the delivery of computers rejected by the
> department for use by prisoners. A truckload of computers will be
> delivered to Bob Debus at 1pm Wednesday 6 October.
> We will gather outside Parliament House at 12:45pm.
>
> Here is the press release for your info.
>
>
>
>
> MEDIA RELEASE 6 OCTOBER 1999
>
> TRUCKLOAD OF COMPUTERS FOR PRISONERS
>
> The Australian Prisoners Union in conjunction with Justice Action and
> other community organisations will deliver a truckload of computers to Bob
> Debus, Minister for Corrective Services at NSW Parliament House at 1pm
> today.
>
> Over 100 computers have been donated from corporations and community
> groups to be installed into maximum security pods/wings in NSW. The
> 'Computer Project', auspiced by Justice Action and the Australian
> Prisoners Union, sees access to modern technology as vital to the basic
> right of prisoners to education, legal defence and training.
>
> "Unconvicted prisoners at the MRRC Silverwater have only an hour a week
> to access computers. Library staff do not regularly assist prisoners in
> obtaining information yet Mr Debus has claimed that computers are already
> easily accessed by prisoners. This shows how out of touch he is with the
> facts and the attitude entrenched throughout Corrective Services." said
> Ian MacDougall of the Australian Prisoners Union.
>
> "We will be at Parliament House delivering the computers to demonstrate
> the goodwill of the community towards prisoner education, and highlight
> the government's unacceptable policy of dehumanising citizens and hiding
> them away from community support."said Kilty O'Gorman, a spokesperson for
> Justice Action.
>
> "NSW Corrective Services should be renamed NSW Corruptive Services for the
> damage it is doing, whilst taking almost half a billion dollars away from
> health and education." said Brett Collins of Justice Action.
>
> "There is no valid reason to reject a computer. To do so only serves to
> further alienate an already alienated section of society - prisoners. The
> Minister and Department have no problem with a TV in each cell, so how can
> they justify rejecting free computers?" said Kilty O'Gorman of Justice
> Action.
>
> Foe further comment contact Kilty O'Gorman 9281 5407 Brett Collins 0414
> 705 003
>
> justice ACTION PO Box 386, Broadway, NSW 2007 Ph: 02 9281 5100 Fx
> :02 9281 5303 JA@justiceaction.org.au www.justiceaction.org.au
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