QAI wrote to the Expert Legal Panel regarding the proposal to include additional offences under Queensland’s Adult Crime, Adult Time legislation.
QAI urged the panel not to include additional offences under the legislation. The legislation goes against best practice, was enacted despite strong opposition from experts and breaches several of Australia’s human rights obligations, including Queensland’s own Human Rights Act. Adding new offences won’t work because:
1. Detention doesn’t reduce crime;
2. The threat of detention doesn’t reduce crime;
3. Detaining children is harmful and exacerbates the social determinants of crime; and
4. Adult Crime, Adult Time will have unintended negative consequences.
QAI echoes calls for reform that will increase community safety, however the only way to achieve this is through evidence-based interventions that uphold the human rights of children, not excessively punitive approaches that cause harm to children, their families and our communities.
Read our full submission here: