Rushed changes,justified with disputed claims of an “exceptional” crime crisis and expected to lift nation-leading detention pressures,passed parliament this week.
Juvenile offending jumped significantly in Victoria last year,with the largest increases among the youngest age bracket,the latest crime statistics for 2022 have revealed.
Ahead of debate on controversial laws expected to pass parliament this week,the premier has confirmed she will act on a Labor MP’s last-minute intervention.
Children were responsible for about 20 per cent of Qld’s total charges for crimes committed in both December and January – high,but roughly on par with the past three summers.
The committee tasked with scrutinising the measures,which the government admits will result in more children being jailed,has been lambasted as “out of its depth” after it called for the bill to be passed as is.
A key Queensland government advisory group has found kids under 14 contribute less than 1 per cent of all offences statewide – most often property related.
Cooper MP Jonty Bush has urged the government to be courageous and find evidence-backed solutions to youth crime in Queensland.
Whistleblowers claim the use of solitary confinement is rampant at Victoria’s largest juvenile justice facility,and that there have been multiple suicide attempts and self-harm incidents.
While submissions officially closed just three days after the controversial plan landed in state parliament,the MPs examining them have lifted the deadline.
Until political leaders can muster the effort to deal responsibly with such emotive issues,we’re doomed to repeat the cycle.
Amid consideration of a contentious youth justice bill,one expert has likened the government’s actions to the denial of climate change.