Gary Oliver, Executive Director, Strategy and First Nations Engagement at Knowmore Legal Service, has expressed his disappointment at the Queensland Government’s refusal to consider reforms to youth bail laws.
Mr Oliver, a Kuku Yalanji man, said the position taken by the Crisafulli Government represents a backward step for the state.
“It is unbelievable and disappointing that the Queensland Government would take us back to the Bjelke-Petersen days of locking children up. This approach ignores the evidence, the lived experience of our communities, and the commitments made under Closing the Gap,” Mr Oliver said.
Youth justice settings present a significant risk of sexual assault and physical harm to children, and it is most often children who have already suffered trauma who end up in the system. As an organisation that actively supports justice-making and healing for all victim-survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Knowmore Legal Service advocates treating the root cause of problematic behaviour in children, and more protections from high-risk environments like the youth justice system.
“If we get it right for our youth, we save on government interaction and expenditure in the future. It is well known that many young people who are incarcerated become victims themselves whilst detained. Bail reform is not about being soft on crime, it’s about being smart on justice.”
The Australian revealed Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington led opposition at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General meeting in Sydney last week. Ms Frecklington rejected the Commonwealth’s request to consider reforms that would keep more young people out of remand, stating, “Queensland will not support any weakening of bail laws.”
Mr Oliver said the decision raises questions about the government’s commitment to reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the justice system.
“Is this government serious about Closing the Gap? Because locking up more of our young people is the surest way to widen it,” he said.
The Closing the Gap working group recommended national reforms to youth bail laws aimed at reducing incarceration rates and improving long-term outcomes. Attorneys-General, however, noted in the meeting’s minutes that any legislative changes would remain a matter for individual jurisdictions. Mr Oliver called on the Co-Conveners of Close the Gap to hold all signatory Governments to account. To do otherwise risks breaches of human rights and may potentially cost the states through litigation.
Mr Oliver said Queensland’s hard-line stance fails to acknowledge the broader social and economic costs. “We need solutions that keep young people safe, connected, and on a pathway to better futures. This decision does the opposite,” he said.
For media inquiries or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Knowmore Fundraising & Communications Manager Barbara Charan on 0432 681 037 or media@knowmore.org.au
Knowmore is a community legal centre that provides free, independent legal advice and multidisciplinary support for survivors of child abuse throughout Australia, including in relation to the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme.