A United Nations committee for the prevention of torture has cancelled a delayed visit to Australia, citing “obstacles” gaining access to places where people are being held against their will.

Last year a visit by the committee was cut short after it was refused entry to detention facilities in NSW and Queensland.

The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) said in a statement on Monday it had requested a number of assurances from local authorities in a bid to resume the visit, but still held concerns over access being restricted.

“Some of the requested guarantees were not provided, and the subcommittee could not ascertain that it would be able to resume its visit in a reasonable timeframe,” it said.

Australia joins Rwanda as the only other country to have a visit cancelled by the subcommittee.

The Australian Human Rights Commission described the move to cancel the visit as “extraordinary” and said it was indicative of Australia’s fragmented approach to protecting the human rights of people in detention.

Following it latest meeting, the UN subcommittee also confirmed plans to visit South Africa, Kazakhstan and Madagascar in the first half of this year, and Croatia, Georgia, Guatemala, Palestine, and the Philippines in the second half of 2023.

“In each country visit, besides examining places of deprivation of liberty, the SPT will meet with public authorities responsible for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment and assists the country’s independent torture prevention watchdog,” it said.

Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay said Australia should wake up to its international responsibilities and implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) framework.

“This decision by the UN subcommittee is disappointing but not undeserved,” Ms Finlay said.

“Australia has had years to meet our OPCAT obligations, but we have failed to deliver on our treaty promises.”

– AAP