A youth remand centre will be fast-tracked in Queensland after the state government copped criticism for allowing juveniles to be detained in watchhouses.
The premier on Oct. 5 announced the $250 million (US$160 million), 50-bed facility will be built in Brisbane’s south.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted the centre completed as quickly and as safely as possible, with early site work to start this month and a “rapid-build construction approach” expected to deliver stage one in 2024.
The state government came under fire in August for pushing through controversial changes that override human rights laws and allow police watchhouses and adult prisons to be used as youth detention centres.
Indigenous activists, legal experts, advocates and social service groups have called on the new youth justice laws to be axed, saying the government rushed the legislation through parliament without proper scrutiny.
Ms. Palaszczuk said she believed the new Wacol facility was the best, next step forward after listening to the human rights commissioner, government officials and community feedback.
“No one wants to see young people in watchhouses for extended periods of time,” Ms. Palaszczuk told reporters.
“I don’t want to see it. The public doesn’t want to see it. But we know that some of these young people are serious repeat offenders.”
The facility will be located on land owned by the Queensland Police Service near the existing Brisbane Youth Detention Centre.
“This youth remand centre is strategically located near youth detention centres to leverage off the programs and services that are in this precinct,” Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
“It expands detention capacity, it does it in a way that is conducive to community safety, as well as also promoting rehabilitation outcomes for young people.”
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the new centre would be fully operational by next year.
“I’ve been very, very clear that watchhouses are not for children. They’re a temporary facility in which children come into and exit as soon as possible,” Ms. Carroll said.
“This (new centre) is reducing the overstay of children and into the future.”
Queensland currently has three youth detention centres with two more set to be completed in 2026.
Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) said building more remand centres was not the answer to youth crime, describing it as a band-aid solution.
“There is absolutely an urgent need to get children out of watchhouses,” JRI executive director Dr. Mindy Sotiri said.
“However, rushing to build more cells for children instead of looking for the evidence-based solutions to this problem is incredibly short-sighted.”
