"A convicted murderer is challenging the southern Australian state of Victoria's ban on prisoners eating the Vegemite yeast-based spread, arguing that the restriction breaches his human right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian." Andre McKechnie is suing Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety and the agency that manages the prisons, Corrections Victoria, in a case currently scheduled to be heard in 2026."
"Corrections Victoria says that the polarizing brown spread and its powerful flavor and aroma "interferes with narcotic detection dogs." Inmates would smear packages containing illicit drugs with the spread in a bid to put dogs off the scent. Vegemite can also be used to make home-brewed alcohol, if combined with water, sugar and a more plentiful yeast source, according to the contraband list. The spread is made with leftover brewery yeast."
"The Department of Justice and Community Safety and Corrections has not commented on the case, maintaining a typical government agency approach to issues headed to the courts. John Herron, a lawyer and victims of crime advocate, whose daughter was beaten to death in a Melbourne park in 2019, said it was a frivolous lawsuit that was offensive to victims' families."
Andre McKechnie, a convicted murderer, is suing Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety and Corrections Victoria and seeking a 2026 court declaration that his human rights have been infringed. He argues the ban on prisoners eating Vegemite breaches his human right to enjoy his culture as an Australian and that the agency breached the Corrections Act by failing to provide food adequate to maintain his well-being. Vegemite has been labeled contraband in Victoria jails since 2006 due to concerns it interferes with narcotic detection dogs and can be used to make home-brewed alcohol. The Department has not commented. A victims' advocate described the lawsuit as frivolous and offensive to victims' families.
Read at www.dw.com
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