Stuart Highway refuses prison drug-test

A Darwin activist may have to ride out the remainder of his sentence in a "punishment cell" at the infamous Berrimah Prison.

Berrimah Prison inmate Stuart Highway has been labelled an “identified drug user” (IDU) for refusing to provide a urine sample to prison officers earlier this week.

Stuart, presently serving a three-month sentence for charges arising from his involvement in an October 2002 drug law-reform rally, refused to give the required 60mil sample on Monday during a random drug-test.

He said he could face 28 days’ in the "punishment cells".

"They haven’t issued me with any paper work yet,” Stuart said.

“But I guess they’ll get around to it.”

Stuart said more officers than usual “swarmed” into the yard at 8am and began calling names. Those called had to assemble on one side of the compound, where they were given a cup of water to drink and ordered to provide a sample.

They had three hours to provide the sample, but Stuart said most had provided a specimen within 10 minutes. Anybody who doesn’t provide a sample within three hours, is deemed to be a drug-user.

“If it had occurred in Alice Springs, there would have been a riot,” he said.

“They swarmed in with no warning and herded us into one yard. Some prisoners were strip-searched and officers searched the dorms.

“Prisoners were on edge because it was really hot and we were locked in the yard.” Stuart said he was back in dorm one, which was less crowded.

Asked about his legal aid appeal, Stuart said it was like “flogging a dead horse”.

“Lorenzo Lodge, who was handling it, said the sentence was on the harsh side, but was not manifestly excessive,” Stuart said.

Stuart has 33 days left to serve.

For more information about Stuart’s case click here.

To arrange an interview, please ring NAPNT on 0415 16 2525 (+61 415 16 2525 from overseas) or Darwin Prison on (08) 8922 0111 (+61 8 89220111).

NAPNT members are still very concerned for Stuart’s welfare, please ring the Darwin Correctional Centre on (08) 8922 0111 (+61 8 8922 0111 from outside Australia) to ensure that Stuart’s human rights are being respected. Please write to Stuart and let him know that he (and the other prisoners) is supported on the outside.