Page 1022 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011
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I think we are all aware of just how difficult and sensitive this inquiry will be and how urgent it is that we get it right. If we are really looking to improve and make Bimberi a safe place for everybody then we need to make sure this inquiry is able to do the work without political hindrance from the Assembly. The inquiry must be allowed to run its course and then analyse the outcomes.
The inquiry does not need members of this place taking pot shots as it ultimately distracts from the real issue. The real issue is that Bimberi is a closed community that sits behind 10-foot walls of cyclone fencing and barbed wire. We know that the young people in there often come from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds, which means they are very vulnerable. They lack social skills and emotional skills to help themselves become who they want to be.
It was, as I said earlier, the ACT Greens who broadened the terms of reference of the inquiry to include these young people. The argument that has been made that this is somehow a lower quality inquiry or a less robust inquiry is absolute rubbish, and we all know it. The Greens broadened the nature of this inquiry. We included young people and we included the whole youth justice system.
I will be monitoring the inquiry. We need to see ongoing reform. We need to make sure that we focus on positive rehabilitation of young people to break those cycles of poverty, dysfunction and criminal behaviour, because all of these children deserve our support to reach their potential. The Greens will not be supporting the motion to rescind the current inquiry. I have an amendment that I have circulated that provides a much more constructive way forward. I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes:
(a) that on 31 January 2011, the Human Rights Commission announced the details of its inquiry into the youth justice system in the ACT, including Bimberi Youth Justice Centre and Community Youth Justice, and a comprehensive human rights audit into conditions of detention in Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, begun in accordance with a resolution of the Assembly made on 8 December 2010; and
(b) that a number of very serious allegations have been made concerning:
(i) specific incidents at the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre; and
(ii) impropriety by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services in administering the facility;
(2) expresses its concern about the continuing emergence of issues relating to the management and operations of the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre by the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, particularly:
(a) inadequate suicide prevention training for staff;
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