Page 5769 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011
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I clearly put on the record that my motion is not about dismissing the contribution and input of the task force. They have worked hard and they have an important role in this reform process and in developing the blueprint. Their work needs to be complemented by the insight and expertise that a youth justice panel can bring to the process. I look forward to the support of members for my motion; support that will assist to bring about positive change to the youth justice system sooner rather than later.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (10.32): I thank the member for her motion and I welcome the opportunity to respond. I recently received a letter from the Children and Young People Commissioner and the human rights commissioner that comprehensively outlines the commission’s comments on the government’s response to the 2011 ACT youth justice system report.
I note that the commissioners welcomed the direction of the youth justice reform agenda already begun by government in response to the report and the development of the blueprint for youth justice and integrated management system at Bimberi. I acknowledge the commissioners’ well-founded confidence that both initiatives should see realisation of a substantial number of the commissioners’ recommendations.
I will write to the commissioners about their response and I wish to acknowledge the commissioners’ recognition that the role of the commission is not to engage in a protracted debate about the merits of individual recommendations or how they are implemented. We all just want to get on with the job of improving outcomes for some of our most vulnerable children and young people.
Ms Hunter calls on the government to appoint an ongoing specialist advisory panel to advise the government and the youth justice implementation task force on the development of the blueprint and its implementation. With respect, the government asserts that the establishment of a youth justice advisory panel at this stage could be premature.
The Human Rights Commission has identified three urgent priorities for action by the government. These were service mapping, culturally appropriate programming and justice reinvestment. The commission also has identified three important priorities: early intervention, diversion and through-care. The government’s response to the commission’s report was tabled in the Assembly only 50 days ago and reflected closely these priorities.
Recommendations 4.4 and 6.2 have not been identified as priority actions by the Human Rights Commissioner and, therefore, were not seen as a priority action for the government. The task force and the government have been working tirelessly to develop a draft blueprint for consultation. Adding another layer of specialist administration at this stage could distract from the important work of developing the blueprint and investing in important services. The panel, if created, would create an impost on government and would require additional resources that I believe ought best be in front-line delivery of youth justice.
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