• Criminal sues over "vegan spread" ban in prisons
• He claims the prohibition violates his right to practice his culture under the Human Rights Charter

An Australian prisoner has filed a lawsuit challenging the state of Victoria’s decision to ban the entry of the famous yeast spread "Vegemite" into prisons, arguing that blocking this product tied to Australian identity infringes on his right to "practice his culture as an Australian."

Andre Mackenzie, serving a life sentence for murder, has taken his case to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Although Vegemite is found in over 80% of Australian households, all 12 prisons in the state have prohibited it since 2006.

Mackenzie is suing the Department of Justice and Community Safety, as well as Corrections Victoria, which manages the prisons, with his case scheduled to be heard next year.

Authorities say the ban exists because the product interferes with sniffer dogs, as some inmates reportedly used it to mask the scent of contraband. Additionally, the yeast content can be exploited to produce alcohol inside prisons.

Mackenzie is seeking a court ruling confirming that the prisons violated his right to practice his culture under the Human Rights Charter.

He also aims to prove that authorities breached the Corrections Act by failing to provide food that maintains his health and wellbeing, and he is demanding a reconsideration of the Vegemite ban in accordance with the law.