Queensland is not only trampling the rights of children, it is setting a concerning legal precedent

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 19:38:56 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/queensland-is-not-only-trampling-the-rights-of-children-it-is-setting-a-concerning-legal-precedent-212377>

"Last week, the Queensland parliament voted to override its own human rights
law in order to enable children to continue to be detained in police watch
houses and adult detention facilities.

This was not the first time it had taken such a step. In March, the parliament
passed amendments to override the state’s Human Rights Act to create an offence
for children who breach bail conditions, require a sentencing court to consider
a child’s bail history, and enable a child to be declared a serious repeat
offender.

These moves have attracted a significant amount of criticism because they come
so soon after the state’s Human Rights Act was adopted. And they are serious
because children’s rights are the ones being trampled – twice – and children
are among the most vulnerable members of our community, even when they commit
crimes.

What has received less attention, however, is the fact the parliament’s actions
also go against international human rights protections under treaties such as
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child.

In addition, overriding the Human Rights Act twice could create a pattern we
should be extremely concerned about."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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