Update
The results are in. In the wake of the election, help us tell the newly elected Queensland Government that kids don’t belong in jail cells. Together we won’t stop fighting for the rights of kids and the justice of First Nations communities.
The Liberal National Party’s ‘adult crime adult time’ policy is set to put Queensland in direct violation of international human rights standards. Australia has repeatedly faced international scrutiny for failing to uphold this standard, and Queensland’s proposed policies would deepen this non-compliance.
All expert evidence produced in Australia demonstrates how punitive, carceral responses to youth offending does not reduce rates of recidivism to make communities safer. Rather, it serves to exacerbate the impacts of trauma and alienation that can lead to offending.
That’s why we’re calling for urgent reform to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years old, end the practice of detaining children in adult watch houses and to fully fund the Indigenous-led diversionary programs that have been proven to work.
Sign and share the petition to tell the newly elected Government of Queensland to ensure any youth justice policies they enact do not breach human rights.
On October 26, Queenslanders will head to the polls to vote on who will become the 93 members of the legislative assembly (MLAs). The party with a majority of MLAs elected (at least 47) will form the next Queensland Government.
To find your electorate and your candidates, or your closest polling booth, head to www.ecq.qld.gov.au
What are Queenslanders voting for?
The Queensland Parliament, like the NT Parliament, is unicameral. This means only one chamber – unlike the rest of Australian states, they do not have a lower and upper house.
Queensland Labor is the current QLD government, holding 51 of the 93 seats in parliament. Non-major party candidates currently hold 7 seats of the 93, and this includes MPs from Katter’s Australia Party and the Queensland Greens.
Where does each party stand on Indigenous Youth Justice?
Queensland’s low minimum age of criminal responsibility of just 10 years old has severely impacted Indigenous children. They face disproportionately high rates of contact with the youth justice system, entering earlier, staying longer, and rarely exiting under positive circumstances. Indigenous children are twice as likely to miss out on diversion opportunities and 27 times more likely to be held in custody compared to their non-Indigenous peers.
These kids face a system which is already geared against them. Decades of racism and bias is woven into the fabric of the criminal justice system. The age of criminal responsibility being set so low creates a cycle of imprisonment and reoffending amongst Indigenous children who are already disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.
Amnesty is calling all parties to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 levelling up with international human rights standards.
Sign the petition to raise the age of criminal responsibility, end the use of watch houses and properly fund justice reinvestment in Queensland.
Queensland Labor Party
The current Queensland Labor government has expressed support for raising the age of criminal liability from 10 to 12 years, but there are no confirmed plans to implement this change.
Stephen Miles has made no suggestion of ending the practice of using adult watch houses to detain children, or funding Justice reinvestment.
Queensland National Liberal Party
Earlier this year, opposition leader, David Crisafulli, announced an “Adult Crime, Adult Time” policy which they promise to legislate if elected.
Under this policy, children would be sentenced under the general criminal code – applicable to all adults – rather than the youth justice act.
Crisafulli has publicly stated that he believes ‘it’s wrong’ to jail children in police watch houses and ‘there’ll be less kids in watch houses’ if he is elected Premier but has not committed to fully ending the practice.
Queensland Greens
The Queensland Greens have committed to advocating for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 14 and have suggested they will adopt child protection and other social measures to address the over-representation of Indigenous Queenslanders in the child protection system, as well as invest in early intervention and prevention community-based programs.
Katter Australia Party
The Katter Australia Party have proposed some deeply harmful policies, including a proposal to legislate “castle law”, allowing people to kill intruders in their homes.
Independent Candidates
Independent Candidates are unaffiliated with any political party and can determine their own policy platforms. This means their positions vary widely. We recommend examining your local independent candidate’s platform thoroughly and reaching out for clarification if needed.
Seats to watch
Both parties will need to win at least 47 seats to be elected into majority government.
- A number of seats on the Gold Coast are held with very tight margins – seats such as Gaven and Coomera will be worth watching on election night.
- In inner city Brisbane, seats such as McConnell and Cooper have tight contests, with the Greens challenging for these seats.
- North of Brisbane, where the election is likely to be won or lost, seats to watch include, Hervey Bay, Nicklin, Caloundra and Bundaberg.
- Much further north, Townsville, Thuringowa, Rockhampton, Keppel, Mackay, Cairns, Barron River and cook are all worth keeping a close eye on too.
What are we campaigning for?
Amnesty is calling all parties to:
- Raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14. Level up with international human rights standards and listen to the experts who have said time and time again that kids don’t belong in prison. It causes them irreparable trauma, removes them from their culture and support systems.
- Fund Indigenous led and evidence-based alternatives to prison. It’s a simple solution; kids can receive the support they need through community-led programs that address the root causes of trauma and disadvantage. We know this because these programs already exist, and they’re working.
- End the use of Watch House for kids. Recently, adult watch houses have been used by Queensland Police for the detention of young children. Kids need culturally appropriate support services that address the root causes of trauma and disadvantage, not unsentenced detention in adult prison cells.
