A convicted murderer serving a life sentence in Victoria has launched a Supreme Court challenge against a ban on Vegemite in prisons. Andre McKechnie, who was convicted of murder in Queensland in the 1990s with a non-parole period of 15 years, is fighting the Department of Justice over the prohibition of the yeast spread.
Vegemite is banned in Victorian jails due to its high yeast content, which prisoners have used to brew homemade alcohol. Authorities also cite its strong smell, which can hinder detection dogs during searches.
According to court documents, McKechnie claims the ban prevents him from 'enjoying his culture' while incarcerated. He seeks to overturn the ban so he can consume Vegemite. Taxpayers are funding the legal challenge, with a one-day trial scheduled for July next year.
This is not McKechnie's first legal battle. In 2021, he initiated proceedings to stop the state from forcing him to consume food not conforming to kosher law, but that case was dismissed. McKechnie is currently held at Port Phillip Prison, having previously been at Hopkins and Ravenhall Correctional Centres.
The Vegemite ban has garnered attention beyond prisons. In April, an Australian cafe owner in Canada was ordered to destroy $8,000 worth of Vegemite due to non-compliance with food regulations, but the ban was later lifted after clarification that the health risk was low.
