6 years ago
ROYAL COMMISSION IN TO YOUTH DETENTION AND CHILD PROTECTION
SENATOR PATRICK DODSON
Federal Labor welcomes the Northern Territory Governments response to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Youth in the Northern Territory.
The commitment to support the intent and direction of the 227 Commission Recommendations is a positive a step towards substantial reform.
The Territory Government has already taken substantive steps to reform youth justice and child protection, investing in new bail support services and accommodation facilities and family and youth supports.
It demonstrates the absolute seriousness the Northern Territory Government took the Commission findings and their understanding of the need for wholesale reform of a broken youth justice system.
In light of the Northern Territory Government’s response, Labor calls on the Commonwealth Government to review their initial response to the Royal Commission.
In their initial response the Turnbull Government have claimed only 28 of the 227 recommendations are commonwealth responsibility and made no funding commitments.
The Turnbull Government called for this Royal Commission and was praised for their leadership in responding to the shocking treatment of children in Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
The Royal Commission revealed the extent to which the abuse of children in the Northern Territory was wide spread and systemic, and provided a clear road map to reform.
It is time for action.
Federal Labor urges the Turnbull Government to take responsibility and negotiate in good faith with Chief Minister Michael Gunner and the Northern Territory Government and work collaboratively so that the Royal Commission’s findings can be implemented.