Today I speak with Deborah Glass, Victoria’s Ombudsman. The Victorian Ombudsman has led the way in promoting human rights across the State. Recent investigations into the treatment of public housing residents during lockdown, the solitary confinement of young people in youth detention, the practice of State Trustees in managing people’s assets, and the treatment of women in the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, reveal these human rights issues. They also reveal the importance of urgent and effective implementation of OPCAT in Victoria. In this episode we examine how the Ombudsman believes human rights look should guide government decision-making and the Victorian Ombudsman’s role in supporting or examining that.

Of the 25 episodes in the podcast, this was the first in-person episode. I hope you are as excited about that as I am!

 

Shownotes

The Ombudsman for Human Rights: Case Book: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/the-ombudsman-for-human-rights-a-casebook/

Investigation into the Solitary Confinement of Children and Young People: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/opcat-in-victoria-a-thematic-investigation-of-practices-related-solitary-confinement-of-children-and-young-people/

Investigation into Dame Phyllis Frost Centre: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/implementing-opcat-in-victoria-report-and-inspection-of-dame-phyllis-frost-centre/

Investigation into Public Housing Towers Lockdown: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/investigation-into-the-detention-and-treatment-of-public-housing-residents-arising-from-a-covid-19-hard-lockdown-in-july-2020/