<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/12/queensland-children-as-young-as-10-face-life-sentences-for-as-tough-new-laws-pass-parliament>
"Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, has conceded there will be “real
pressure” on the state’s already overcrowded youth justice system as a result
of his flagship youth justice laws.
The making Queensland safer bill passed state parliament on Thursday,
implementing the LNP government’s “adult crime, adult time” election promise.
The state’s jails have been over capacity for a decade, even before the laws,
which dramatically increase maximum sentences for child offenders.
Whistleblowers raised concerns of “horrendous” conditions in police watch
houses as a result of overcrowding during the Christmas peak last year.
Crisafulli conceded there would be “short-term challenges” as a result of the
new laws.
“In the long term, we have a plan to deliver a raft of other detention
facilities and different options,” he said.
“In the short term, there will be some real pressure.”
All 35 Labor MPs present voted for the bill, with just Greens MP Michael
Berkman and independent MP for Noosa Sandy Boulton voting no.
The LNP leader said he intends to ask the governor, Jeannette Young, to give
the laws royal assent, their final green light before taking effect, “as
quickly as possible”.
“If the laws pass shortly, we would hope that in the hours that follow, that
this can be given royal assent,” he said on Thursday afternoon.
The laws apply to children as young as 10. They designate 13 offences as “adult
crimes”, including serious assaults, breaking and entering and dangerous
operation of a vehicle. Children convicted of them are subject to the same
length of sentence as adults. If convicted of murder they must be given a life
sentence with a 20-year minimum non-parole period.
The government concedes the laws are contrary to international and state human
rights law, are discriminatory against young people and will “have a greater
impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children”.
Many raised concern that the state’s overcrowded youth justice system – which
already detains more children than any other state – would be overwhelmed."
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
