A life-sentenced prisoner is contesting a ban on Vegemite, citing a violation of his human rights. Andre McKechnie, 54, convicted in 1994 for the murder of Otto Kuhne in Australia, has been incarcerated at Port Phillip Prison in Victoria for over 30 years. The ban on Vegemite in all 12 prisons in the state has led McKechnie to file a lawsuit claiming his right to embrace his Australian culture has been infringed.

McKechnie is taking legal action against Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety along with Corrections Victoria, aiming to secure access to Vegemite. He asserts that the ban has prevented him from enjoying his cultural rights as an Australian under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act. The lawsuit also argues that the prison system failed to provide adequate food, breaching the Corrections Act.

The ban on Vegemite was implemented in the early 2000s by Corrections Victoria due to concerns that it interfered with narcotic detection dogs. Inmates were reportedly using Vegemite to mask the scent of illicit drugs. While officials have declined to comment on the case, family members of crime victims have expressed opposition to McKechnie’s legal challenge.

John Herron, an advocate for crime victims, criticized the focus on the perpetrator’s rights over victims. He emphasized that victims often lack support and face reminders of their tragedies, such as the debate over food spreads in prisons. Herron highlighted the need to prioritize support for victims rather than granting what he views as unnecessary privileges to inmates.