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The National Children’s Commissioner has welcomed a Senate inquiry report calling for child justice reform.
Late last week, the Senate standing committee on legal and constitutional affairs released its interim report into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, which highlighted the urgent need for political leaders to drive systemic reform to ensure child justice is made a national priority.
That interim report recommended that the Senate continue to examine the incarceration of children in Australia, given the significant and disturbing evidence received by the committee, including that of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) Help Way Earlier! report, and that the Senate consider an inquiry into Australia’s child justice and detention system.
According to National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds (pictured), the “significant and disturbing evidence” is reflected in the interim report’s two recommendations.
“The inquiry heard compelling and consistent testimonies about the failures of child justice systems across Australia. There is evidence of widespread breaches of human rights and a persistent lack of accountability by state and territory governments to act to prevent crime by children and keep communities safe,” she said.
“The Senate committee also heard there is a role for the federal government to provide national leadership on reform based on evidence and human rights.”
The news follows Hollonds’ appearance on The Lawyers Weekly Show in September, in which she discussed the need to reform Australia’s approach to child justice.
In that conversation, Hollonds reflected on how the nation is failing on such justice outcomes, and outlined a roadmap to reform those outcomes across the country.
In December, she also slammed the Queensland government’s “adult crime, adult time” laws, saying they show a “flagrant disregard” for the human rights of children and international law.
Hollonds said: “It is very heartening to see the confirmation of our contribution, which we could not have achieved without the support of fellow child rights advocates and the many children and families who bravely shared their experiences with the justice system.
“I sincerely hope this interim Senate inquiry report will be a turning point for systemic change, after decades of neglect of our youngest citizens.
“These are children in the most vulnerable of circumstances, and we have failed them. It is time for all Australian governments to be accountable for the human rights of children consistent with our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at:
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Jerome Doraisamy
