Qld government proposes using police watch houses to detain young offenders

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Queensland premier has defended the government's move to fast-track proposed law youth justice law changes, saying it is "standard practice" and their job is "to keep the public safe".

Transcript

00:00 Anger bubbling over.

00:04 This is harming children.

00:06 As the state rushes controversial youth justice changes through parliament.

00:11 We don't see a synonymous government that walks the talk.

00:14 Among a raft of last minute amendments to a child protection bill, plans to use police

00:19 watch houses and adult prisons as youth detention centres.

00:24 This actually formalises a practice that's been in place for 30 years, so that's point

00:28 number one.

00:30 Secondly, our job is to keep the public safe.

00:34 The youth justice minister argues it was needed after a recent court case questioned whether

00:39 children were being lawfully detained in police watch houses.

00:43 This is not a decision that we take lightly.

00:46 The Palaszczuk government's decision to override the state's Human Rights Act for the second

00:51 time this year has triggered a chorus of criticism.

00:54 It certainly damages the reputation of the Queensland government as a government that

00:59 respects and values human rights.

01:01 So I completely understand that the community is fed up with crime, but the solution of

01:06 holding more kids in police watch houses is not the solution to this.

01:12 Fury too, inside parliament.

01:15 It was a moment that this government trashed the way this parliament operates and in the

01:20 process it trashed the last remaining shred of their integrity credibility.

01:25 The amendments that they've moved at the 11th hour will mean that children as young as 10

01:29 can effectively be detained indefinitely in adult watch houses and in adult prisons.

01:34 We're insulted by the way this has all been presented by parliament.

01:37 The way these contentious changes have been rushed through parliament means they bypass

01:42 the committee system set up to scrutinise legislation.

01:46 It's caused many to question whether the Palaszczuk government did it deliberately, given the

01:51 heat it's been copping on youth crime.

01:54 Former Speaker and Labor MP John McHale says he's concerned about the precedent it sets.

02:01 Value the protocols and procedures that have been set up because in that way you'll get

02:07 better legislation and better outcomes for the people of Queensland.

02:11 Thank you.

02:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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