{
  "id": 20030613,
  "title": "Even Labor MPs are at a loss over the Victorian premier’s ‘tough love’ plan for youth offenders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/even-labor-mps-are-at-a-loss-over-the-victorian-premiers-tough-love",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T19:00:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/15/victoria-premier-ben-caroll-youth-crime-offenders-plan-ntwnfb"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal Labor MPs are expressing bewilderment over Victorian Premier Ben Carroll's \"tough love\" policy plan for youth offenders, which involves placing children who commit low and mid-level offenses in secure facilities for schooling, drug and alcohol treatment, and life skills. Legal experts argue that such a plan presents a concerning definition of \"therapy.\" The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Justice Reform Initiative dismiss the proposal as \"mandatory sentencing dressed up as political leadership.\" Even the state's unions have criticized the plan, suggesting that addressing underlying issues of disadvantage would be more effective than increasing imprisonment. Union secretary Luke Hilakari lamented that the policy resembles something from the Liberal party, particularly regarding the incarceration of children for minor offenses. Labor's union movement has also criticized the proposal, with Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari rebuking the government for its approach. The plan could potentially backfire, as it has already contributed to Labor's declining popularity, as evidenced by a recent poll.",
  "summary": "MPs across factional lines share concerns about policy that legal expert says ‘paints the imprisonment of children as therapeutic’ Get our daily political email , free app or daily news podcast Until December last year, Meena Singh was the Victorian commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people, a role that saw her advocating for some of the state’s most vulnerable children. She had held…",
  "key_points": [
    "Federal Labor MPs puzzled by Victorian Premier's 'tough love' policy",
    "Critics label plan as 'mandatory sentencing dressed up as political leadership'",
    "Labor's union movement criticizes plan, citing potential popularity decline"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}