Crime & Justice
Australian court rejects prisoner's bid to eat Vegemite
October 26, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Coverage
3 reports · over 10 hours
CNCNN
Murderer’s bid to eat Vegemite in Australian prison rejected by judge
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Australian murderer loses bid to eat Vegemite in prison
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
There’s no human right to Vegemite, court tells Australian prisoner who wanted ban overturned
(opens the publisher’s site)Melbourne's Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a life-sentenced murderer's claim that a prison ban on Vegemite breached his right to enjoy Australian culture.
- The Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday rejected Andre McKechnie's legal challenge to the ban, which has stood since 2006.
- Justice Claire Harris ruled the prohibition was reasonable and demonstrably justified by prison authorities' security and management obligations.
- Corrections Victoria said the pungent spread could interfere with drug-detection dogs and its yeast content could be used to brew alcohol.
- McKechnie, serving life for a Queensland murder, argued the refusal denied his right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian."