Victorian Pre-election Rally — End prison privatisation Stop Aboriginal deaths in custody! Justice for Mr Ward! Cancel all contracts with G4S! November 23, 2010

G4S, the British global security giant, is a company that has blood on its hands. Meanwhile, state governments try to wash their hands of any responsibility. While families of those who’ve lost a loved one in custody are left wringing their hands with grief.

Mr Ward, an Aboriginal elder, died in the back of a prison transport van in January 2008. For nearly 4 hours he was locked in the back with no air-conditioning and no other source of ventilation. The guards driving him, from private contractor Global Solutions Ltd, now G4S, did not check on him during the journey. The trip was over 360 kilometres in extreme heat of 42 degrees. A police reconstruction of the journey showed surface temperatures inside the van reached at least 50C. The West Australian Coroner found the death of this well respected Warburton Elder, was caused by heatstroke sustained while being transported in the van. He said that it was “wholly unnecessary and avoidable.”

The company has a shocking record. The Victorian coroner found it contributed to a 2005 death in Port Phillip prison and that the company failed to provide a safe environment at the prison when four men hanged themselves in 1997. G4S made international headlines again on October 14 this year when a man in their care, being deported from the UK to Angola, died while being heavily restrained with what witnesses say was excessive force.

G4S, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, profits from human misery. Its nett income in 2009 was 219.2 million pounds. It’s the world’s largest security company, with operations in more than 110 countries.

Wednesday 24 November, 12:30 pm
State Parliament, Spring Street, Melbourne
for a 12:45 march to the offices of Bob Cameron, the outgoing Minister for
Emergency Services and Corrections, Level 26, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

We’ll serve a log of claims on the Minister demanding:
• G4S be stripped of all contracts it has been awarded by the Victorian State Government
• An end to deaths in custody — full implementation of the
339 recommendations of the 1987 – 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
• An end to privatisation of custodial services
• Immediate cessation of the Victorian Taser trial

Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association — Melbourne
Endorsed by: ANTaR Victoria, Anarchist Black Cross, Doin Time Show - 3CR, Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women, Socialist Party (list in progress - contact ISJA to endorse)

For more information contact: Solidarity Salon on 9388-0062, Cheryl on 0401 806 331
or e-mail alison.thorne@ozemail.com.au
www.isja-msg.com