Page 3476 - Week 08 - Thursday, 18 August 2011
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“(1) refers recommendations 4.3, 4.15, 4.16 and 15.1 of the Human Rights Commission Report, entitled The ACT Youth Justice System 2011, to the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs for inquiry and report on how best the Standing Committee may have an ongoing role in the implementation of the Human Rights Commission Report recommendations and oversight of youth justice in the ACT; and
(2) report back to the Assembly by 20 October 2011.”.
I hope that I will have support for that amendment. I thank Mrs Dunne for bringing on her motion this morning. It is quite correct that the Assembly plays an ongoing role in this very important reform process that will need to be undertaken into our youth justice system. As I said, it will not happen overnight, but it certainly will be happening in the next 12 months. I think we need to get some runs on the board as soon as possible.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women) (10.42): I am glad to have the opportunity to discuss Bimberi and youth justice again.
The government has supported the appointment of the Human Rights Commission to undertake the review of the youth justice system. We welcome the youth justice system 2011 review report. It is a rigorous and comprehensive report. It has looked deep into the operations of youth justice, including the Bimberi youth detention centre. The government will be closely considering the advice in shaping our blueprint for youth justice in the ACT. We will also provide a full response to the review within the prescribed number of days, which I understand is 66. So there will be a government response—end of September. We have also established an experienced task force to ensure the implementation of the reforms stemming from this report. We have also established a team in house to continue those recommendations.
As Ms Hunter has said, this is something long term. Some of it could be implemented quite quickly; other parts will take a longer time. That is why we have committed dedicated resources to make sure that this work is facilitated and implemented. The task force met last week and will continue to meet next week to continue their work.
There were no grounds for the call of last month for a judicial inquiry, and there are certainly no grounds, as reflected in Mrs Dunne’s motion, to re-prosecute or have a standing committee undertake more inquiries. The Human Rights Commission have provided a comprehensive report, and that is what the government will work towards. The commissioner has taken evidence from an extensive range of participants, former and current residents, former and current staff, community members and community organisations. The report is comprehensive, as I think we can all agree. The government will be providing a comprehensive report back.
That said, there are a number of areas that the report does make reference to, involving the committee for education, training and youth affairs. I support those recommendations. One of the key findings in the report proposes:
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