A lack of air conditioning at Roebourne Regional Prison in WA could be a human rights matter. 

The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia says it is considering a formal complaint, with prisoners asking for air conditioning to be installed in all cells since 2015.

The prison operators have not followed a recommendation by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, which 2 years ago called on the government to implement effective climate control in all residential units at the prison.

Roebourne has reached 50.5 degrees Celsius in recent days. 

WA’s Department of Justice says installing air-conditioning in all residential cells at the prison is not a current infrastructure priority.

ALS WA chief executive Dennis Eggington described it as “inhumane treatment”. 

“The Premier should step in to sort this out and with the [budget] surplus should get aircon in there for those prisoners before this escalates to a death,” he told the ABC. 

“It's more than a breach of human rights, it's a form of torture just because people are Aboriginal.”

He is considering raising the matter with international bodies such as the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

“I believe it falls within an area which is covered by conventions on torture and inhumane treatment, and to me, that's exactly what's happening,” he said.

“I wouldn't even do that to my little puppy at home when it's 50-degree day that little puppy is inside in the air conditioning.

“People are being treated worse than animals.”

WA’s Department of Justice says it offers several cooling options. 

“At Roebourne, this includes fans in every cell, air-conditioning in the recreation hall, shade structures in the main areas of the prison and a flexible routine to adjust to the Pilbara's heat conditions,” the department said.

“There are a limited number of air-conditioned cells available for prisoners with medical conditions and air-conditioned transition cells for Section 95 prisoners who undertake full-day outdoor physical activities.”

Back in 2020, former Corrective Services Minister Fran Logan appeared to rubbish the idea. 

“The idea of air conditioning the whole of the prison is not only quite expensive, it's also very expensive. It's whether people would appreciate it because there are some people who literally don't like air conditioning,” Mr Logan said at the time.