Qld government asked to withdraw youth justice bill over concerns for Indigenous children

The National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People has urged the Queensland government to reconsider its Youth Justice (Circuit Breaker) legislation. Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter expressed concerns in her open letter that the bill could conceal child abuse and unfairly target Indigenous youth.

The bill, currently pending before parliament, proposes youth offender bootcamps, which the commissioner argues would allow harm to a child to go unreported if it could potentially incriminate adults. The legislation would see children sent to remote properties for up to six months, where they would receive basic education and hands-on training in agriculture and livestock management.

Child welfare agencies have criticized the proposed camps, as operators would have a legitimate reason not to report any harm to a child, potentially escalating the issue. Commissioner Hunter also highlighted that children held at these facilities would lack the right to escalate their concerns to the Queensland Ombudsman, the Queensland Family and Child Commission, or the Public Guardian.

She called for the bill to be rebuilt with Indigenous perspectives and emphasized the need for accountability and transparency. The Queensland Family and Child Commissioner, Luke Twyford, echoed similar concerns, advocating for the removal of provisions that could hinder the reporting of child harm. Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber defended the bill, stating that it would serve as a genuine alternative to detention and ensure rehabilitation.

However, she clarified that providers are required to report any harm to children, separate from their obligations under the Child Safe Reportable Conduct Scheme.