Convicted Murderer Sues for Right to Eat Vegemite in Prison

As of 2025-11-18T06:19:53+00:00, a convicted murderer named Andre McKechnie is taking legal action against the Australian state of Victoria over its ban on prisoners consuming Vegemite. The 54-year-old inmate has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Victoria, arguing that denying him access to the iconic yeast-based spread breaches his human right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian."

McKechnie, who is currently held at the maximum-security Port Phillip Prison, was sentenced to life in prison for a 1994 murder in Queensland. He has spent the past decade in custody in the Victorian prison system after being transferred from Queensland a decade ago.

The Vegemite ban in Victorian prisons has been in place since 2006, with authorities citing concerns that inmates were using the spread to conceal illicit drugs and interfere with narcotic detection dogs. Vegemite is also prohibited due to its potential to be used in the production of alcohol, which is considered contraband.

In his lawsuit, McKechnie is seeking a court declaration that the ban on Vegemite violates his rights under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act. He also wants the court to order the decision to ban the spread to be "remade in accordance with the law."

The case is scheduled for trial next year, and the Department of Justice and Community Safety, as well as Corrections Victoria, have declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.