Page 2541 - Week 06 - Thursday, 23 June 2011
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residents, families, workers, the directorates, community organisations, experts and individuals is incorporated is essential if we are to receive and make sure that all of that is incorporated.
I was aware that a six-month time frame, including January, was always going to be tight to gather the vast quantities of information, to analyse, interpret and report back on. However, in saying that, I was also a little wary about this extension, at first request. I was contacted by the Attorney-General earlier this week, informing me about the need to extend the reporting date.
After consideration and speaking with the commissioner, I have satisfied myself that this extension of time would be beneficial. In speaking with the commissioner, I received an agreement that an extension of time would be valuable to the quality of this report and that they would be able to meet the extended deadline.
The issue of Bimberi and the whole of the youth corrections area is one that many of us in this place would like to see positive reform and improvements to. The target group are vulnerable, for a variety of reasons, and if we are to look at the strengths of this type of intervention it has to be that we use this as an opportunity to influence behaviours that have such negative impacts on young people in the broader community.
The ACT Greens have, as one of their key justice principles, that the safety, health and rehabilitation of victims and offenders and the reduction of recidivism and trauma should be given high priority in the justice system and that children and young people require protection in all areas of the justice system. Research on much of Australia’s juvenile justice policy is about diversion of young people from the criminal justice system. The ACT Greens hope this report, when delivered, will be a part of a suite of interventions that will deliver diversion from the system and better outcomes for those in the youth justice system. We heard the minister talk about some reforms that were announced today and I am sure that they can also be informed by this report.
For many years I have had grave concerns about the issue of the unsatisfactorily high incarceration rates of young Indigenous people within Quamby and now Bimberi. The motion we passed in December 2010 was of critical importance in driving an agenda of change for all young people in the youth justice system. However, I must say it is particularly important for our Indigenous young people. I believe that there are ways of reducing these figures for the ACT through the right supports and culturally appropriate early intervention for children, young people and families. The Greens take the rehabilitation and restoration of young people into the community very seriously and realise the broad range in negative impacts that affect children, young people, families and the community at large when this goes wrong.
This issue, in itself, is too important for us to risk by faltering so close to the end of this inquiry. This report will spark the beginning of many changes into the future, all of which I hope will have a positive impact and work towards strengthening our response to juvenile offenders.
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