No child should be in detention.
In WA First Nations youth are 21 times more likely to be incarcerated, making up 60% of the youth in detention. Most of the youth in detention under 14 are First Nations.
However WA Premier, Mark McGowan, has categorically ruled out raising the age of legal responsibility to at least 14, defying the experts and his own party.
Greens spokesperson for resources, Yamatji-Noongar Woman Senator Dorinda Cox said:
“As a former police officer and researcher in this space, I know there are better solutions than locking children up and treating them like animals.
“Recommendations have previously been presented to the government so why are they now calling for a meeting with ‘stakeholders’?
“When will the WA government start listening to the advice already presented to them from experts?
“We already have guidance on the solutions to the crisis, we should be looking at fast tracking the use of the $81.5 million dedicated to restorative justice by the federal Labor government.”