Page 1018 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011
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in making up this information? What do people, these former staff, have to gain in telling lies and making such serious allegations? The fact that the minister has not bothered to even look at it shows how serious she is. We need a judicial inquiry that will get to the bottom of this issue once and for all.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.42): To say that it is disappointing to find ourselves again debating this motion is an understatement for two reasons—firstly, because there is significant evidence that the systems and protections in place for the young people in Bimberi are not what they should be; and, secondly, because we have again been presented with a motion that is attempting to discredit the current inquiry process.
Let me say at the outset that I have full confidence that the Human Rights Commission inquiry is still the best path to resolve the issues currently facing Bimberi and the broader youth justice system. The decision to have the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the human rights commissioner undertake an inquiry and audit is still the best way forward and offers the greatest potential for meaningful change that will improve the workplace for staff and outcomes for children and young people who come into contact with the youth justice system. That, of course, means a better outcome for the whole community.
Thanks to the Greens, we have an inquiry that will report on staff levels, training and retention, security, the use of segregation and restraints on detainees, programs for education and training, health and wellbeing and rehabilitation, early intervention services, the effectiveness of diversionary strategies and the ongoing monitoring of recidivism, particularly for detainees in remand, through-care and after-care services provided to detainees and Community Youth Justice clients and, of course, any other matter that arises. We expanded a terms of reference that focused just on staff to include the whole juvenile justice system and, at the heart of all of this, of course, young people detained there or who are in contact with the Community Youth Justice service. Further, the human rights commissioner is undertaking a comprehensive human rights audit into conditions of detention in Bimberi and will report, of course, on 30 June.
In the past few days we have only further confirmed the need for the inquiry and urgent change. This is not about tinkering at the edges or just responding to particular incidents and particularly grave events. This is about properly understanding why so much has gone wrong and listening to the advice of independent experts as to what can be done to achieve the necessary change—change for the young people, the staff, the management, the department and ultimately the minister. I am encouraged that, despite the issues reported in the media, staff and ex-staff remain committed to this process. I encourage anyone who has an interest in the outcomes of this inquiry to continue to push forward and make their information known.
The youth justice system and particularly Bimberi are not working as they should. There can be no denying that significant measures need to be taken to address the array of problems currently being experienced and exposed. What the literature and research tell us is that detaining a young person, while not to be taken lightly, can be one of the most significant turning points where opportunities and supports can be put in place that ultimately provide for a change in behaviour.
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