Controversial legal amendments that will allow juvenile offenders to be detained at police watchhouses have been criticised by the national children’s commissioner.
“We need evidence-based reforms to the service systems that should be helping children and their families and ensuring that children’s health, development, learning and wellbeing are supported,” she said.
“This includes housing, financial support, and access to mental health services, drug and alcohol services, and domestic violence services. Schools need to coordinate with health and social services to be fit for purpose for complex needs in 2023,” Ms. Hollonds added.
She said placing children in detention did not “rehabilitate or deter them from criminal behaviour.”
State Leader Stands By Tougher Stance on Youth Crime
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland government’s job was to back society’s desire for safety.Ms. Palaszczuk said her government’s job was to “balance the activities of these young criminals across our state with the protection of the community.”
“The public have been pretty loud and clear that they want the community protected, and this is just one means in which young people have been placed into watch houses,” she said.
“This is not our desired outcome; we would much prefer to have them all in youth detention facilities, and this regulation, in my understanding, will actually lapse once new detention facilities are built.”
The left-wing Greens Party have lambasted the move calling it “outrageous.” The law allows 10-17-year-olds to be detained in police watchhouses.
The 2nd Time Queensland’s Human Rights Act Has Been Overriden
The recent amendments will be the second time the Queensland government overrides its Human Rights Act.
Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said children with complex needs are not a problem that can be solved overnight with rashly thought-out changes to the law.
“Victims deserve a youth crime response that works to improve community safety. These laws will not achieve that,” Mr. McDougall said.
“We need a properly resourced, comprehensive plan to address youth offending and keep children and communities safe,” he said.
Ms. Farmer said in a statement that the government would work to ensure young people spend the least time possible in a watchhouse before going to a detention centre.
Meanwhile she called the latest package of laws, the “toughest” in the country, and could see serious repeat offenders jailed for longer periods of time.
“Longer time in detention also allows for more intensive rehabilitation to help tackle the complex causes of youth crime,” she said.
Meanwhile, Children’s Commissioner Hollonds said, “This latest development in Queensland is further evidence that Australia’s youth justice systems are in full-blown crisis and that harsh punitive measures are not keeping the community safer.”
New Police Task Force Deployed to Youth Crime Hotspots
On Aug 23, 2023, the Queensland government launched its rapid response police taskforce which includes detectives and youth justice workers to assist police with disrupting youth crime activity.It comes after the state government announced a $446 million boost to police resources.
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said law enforcement was working tirelessly.
“The state government is committed to not only supporting our police with the strongest youth justice laws in the country but the resources they need to keep our communities safe,” Mr Ryan said.
Queensland Police Services (QPS) Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the QPS was seeing encouraging results, and would look at “rolling out various operations at locations across the state over the coming weeks.”
“Our rapid response teams are highly mobile and go into areas where their expert support is needed most,” Ms. Carroll said.
Since May 7, 2023, Queensland State Flying Squad teams focusing on youth crime have charged 162 young people with more than 448 offences ranging from stealing, burglary, unlawful use of motor vehicle, assault, and robbery.
