Australian National Preventive Mechanism (NPM)
Australia’s multi-body NPM approach reflects Australia’s federal system of government, and the different levels of responsibility for different places of detention in Australia.
As a result, the multi-body Australian NPM has members across the Commonwealth, states and territories, with responsibility for monitoring different places of detention in their respective jurisdictions.
The following are the current members of the Australian NPM:
- Commonwealth
Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman as Commonwealth NPM - Western Australia
Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (WA) (for justice-related facilities including police lockups), Ombudsman WA (for mental health and other secure facilities) - Northern Territory
Office of the Ombudsman NT (as interim coordinating NPM), NT Office of the Children’s Commissioner (anticipated NPM), NT Community Visitor Program (anticipated NPM) - Australian Capital Territory
ACT NPM, a multi-body NPM consisting of ACT Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, ACT Human Rights Commission, ACT Ombudsman - Tasmania
Mr Richard Connock as Tasmanian NPM (concurrently the Tasmanian Ombudsman and Custodial Inspector) - South Australia
Official Visitors (for adult prisons and police cells), Training Centre Visitor (for youth training centres)
Australian NPM meetings
The NPM Coordinator convenes meetings of the Australian NPM, bringing members together to discuss matters relating to detention oversight and OPCAT implementation.
The Australian NPM publishes a communiqué summarising its discussions after each meeting:
- Australian NPM Communiqué No 3, 2024 - 16 September 2024
- Australian NPM Communiqué No 2, 2024 - 24 May 2024
- Australian NPM Communiqué No 1, 2024 - 13 March 2024