Prison disciplinary hearings held ‘in the dark’ with little transparency
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Victoria’s Ombudsman has found the state’s prisoners are being denied basic rights and are routinely offered back-room deals, including for treatment programs, with little means to appeal.
About 10,000 disciplinary hearings are held across the state’s 14 prisons every year and can result in prisoners being fined or stripped of privileges as punishment for breaking rules for conduct including assaults, verbal abuse or smuggling in contraband.
Victoria’s prison disciplinary process has come under scrutiny.
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Victorian businesses who missed out on accessing up to $120 million worth of COVID-19 grants will able to reapply after an Ombudsman investigation found many were knocked back due to small errors and complicated processes.
More than 12,000 hard-hit businesses affected by lockdowns amid the coronavirus pandemic will now get another chance at receiving the $10,000 economic lifeline.
It comes as a scathing final report tabled in Parliament today blamed a complex application system, understaffing and minor errors such as typos for thousands of businesses missing out on being assessed by the deadline.
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Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass says the Business Support Fund scheme was filled with mistakes . (Nine)