Thursday, 9 June 2022

Youth justice system

Dr RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:31): My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Youth Justice. Minister, it was recently reported that the government has dropped its plans to introduce new youth legislation in this term of government. This is a hugely disappointing decision, given the government’s previous commitment. It means that children under 14 will continue to be held in prison cells, and it means all children in youth detention, but disproportionately Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, will continue to experience conditions of isolation in youth detention amounting to solitary confinement under the internationally accepted definition. In short it will mean that Victorian children will continue to be treated in a way that is directly contrary to their minimum rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the convention against torture. Can the minister please explain why the government will deny Victorian children engaged in the criminal justice system their fundamental human rights until after an election?

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:32): I thank Dr Ratnam for her question. This is an important question, and I am sure that Minister Hutchins will respond to her as per the standing orders.

Dr RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:32): Thank you, Minister, for passing that on. By way of follow-up, specifically on the age of criminal responsibility, which we have been told would be best addressed through this now abandoned reform, the Attorney-General has persisted with the line that the Victorian government will apply the national agreement on the age of responsibility. But with Tasmania just announcing that it will raise the age of detention to 14, the ACT well on their way to legislating a minimum age of criminal responsibility of 14, the Northern Territory government agreeing to raise the age to 12 within their term of government and the Queensland government directly ruling out raising the minimum age from 10, it is clearly apparent now there will be no national consensus across all jurisdictions on this issue. Can the minister please now provide the real reason that the Victorian government will not raise the age of criminal responsibility?

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33): Can I seek clarification as to whether the supplementary is actually directed to the Attorney-General or to Minister Hutchins?

Dr Ratnam: It is to the Minister for Youth Justice. I was referencing a statement by the Attorney-General, but it is to the Minister for Youth Justice.

Ms TIERNEY: Thank you. I will refer that to the Minister for Youth Justice.