So far, the only media outlets courageous enough to publish my revelations about the inhumane treatment of David McBride and other inmates at the odious Alexander Maconochie Centre federal prison in Canberra have been Pearls and Irritations and Canberra’s City News.

On 22 October 2024, I finally received a response on behalf of Richard Glenn, Director-General ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate.

This followed my 25 September 2024 email in which I directed a number of questions to the then ACT Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Emma Davidson MLA. This was in regard to repeated allegations concerning the ‘inhumane’ treatment of David McBride and other detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

In between a mass of weasel words, was this stark admission, confirmed by the Director-General himself:

“So far in the 2024-2025 financial year, three detainees have already died while in custody at the AMC.”

But this appalling fact about a federal prison that currently houses only about 400 inmates, was followed by these utterly anodyne words:

“As in the community, deaths can occur in custody for reasons including natural causes.”

To me, this statement of excuse beggars belief.

In the interest of free and open discussion and debate, below is the response I received on behalf of the Director-General, sections of which I have highlighted in bold.

“Dear Professor Fitzgerald

Treatment of Detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC)

Thank you for your correspondence of 25 September 2024 to the Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Emma Davidson MLA, regarding the treatment of detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and in particular Mr David McBride.

Your correspondence was referred........

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