Queensland 'actively pursuing' allowing police to collect child suspect DNA

The Queensland government is actively seeking to change a policy that would permit police to collect DNA samples from child suspects without a court order. Presently, a court's permission is necessary to swab individuals under the age of 17. Police Minister Dan Purdie confirmed the government's intentions to implement these changes.

The Queensland Police Union expressed agreement, stating that the "discrepancy" between the methods used for collecting DNA from children and adults should be eliminated. Union President Shane Prior emphasized that if someone is mature enough to commit crimes, they should also be mature enough for their DNA to be recorded. The union finds the idea of this tool being available to front-line officers appealing.

Premier David Crisafulli inquired about the proposal from the police union. Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside, an organization advocating for the human rights of women and children, criticized the proposal, asserting it is not about enhancing community safety but rather "normalizing the legal dehumanization of children." She argued that the government's actions with each new law convey a message that children are not granted the same human rights as adults and can be treated as permanent suspects under the law.

This approach, according to Kilroy, is instilling a sense of non-entitlement among children, framing them as targets for the police.