Youth justice system
Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:37): (63) My question is also for the Minister for Youth Justice. Minister, a whistleblower from the Parkville youth justice centre has said that due to the government’s ‘rampant’ use of solitary confinement of children:
… boys were threatening to kill themselves so that they could be put on constant observation, giving them someone at their cell door to talk to.
As the minister will be aware, this follows a United Nations committee specifically condemning the use of solitary confinement in Victoria’s youth prisons. Minister, will you end this practice?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:38): I thank Dr Bach for his question and interest in this matter. From the outset, I think the best outcome for young people in our state is to not have interaction with the criminal justice system in the first place. But obviously, if they do come into contact and they are in our custody, then we have a responsibility for their safety as well as that of the hardworking staff in our youth justice system. In relation to the use of isolation, it is a mechanism of last resort. There is no solitary confinement in our youth justice system. Isolation cannot be used as a form of punishment. Dr Bach would well know that, so I am surprised that he has come with that question today. But obviously any use of isolation is in accordance with the human rights charter, and I am pleased to report that we have the lowest rate of young people in custody in this state of anywhere in the nation.
Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:39): I thank the minister for his response. Minister, you were quoted in the media today saying that solitary confinement – isolation, in your language – is ‘rare’. However, the most recent data from your own department shows that it was used exactly 9287 times in the last quarter alone. In the face of this evidence, how do you maintain that solitary confinement is rare?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:39): I thank the member for his supplementary. As I have stated, the use of isolation can only be done in certain circumstances. The statistics actually show that there has been a 38 per cent decrease. You may not have listened to my substantive answer to your first question, but the stats are a 38 per cent decrease in the use of isolation. In the last financial year reporting there was actually a 9 per cent decrease in the use of isolation. So it is used only in rare instances and in accordance with human rights responsibilities.