A Queensland human rights commissioner has expressed her concern about the treatment of children and young people at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre. The government has promised to stop using police cells for youth detention, but advocates say they are still holding some youth in effectively solitary confinement. An independent inspector is needed, and the Queensland human rights commission is recommending that the government do so. But how can these concerns be resolved? What can the community do?
A Queensland health minister has said that a woman with COVID 19 has been diagnosed in the centre, and that she has close family members. She has also had contact with a small group of youth detainees. Despite the health concerns, the Queensland detention centre remains locked down today. Staff members are wearing personal protective equipment and no new detainees are being admitted until further notice. More than 600 staff members will be tested for the virus.
The 76-year-old woman from Ipswich was reportedly infected with the coronavirus. Health officials in Queensland are scrambling to trace her contacts. The health minister has also urged the government to ease the hard border lockdown. The detention centre’s newest employee is a worker who lives near Forest Lake and works for a construction company. Another employee, an elderly woman who lives in Bundamba, works for QBuild, and lives in the surrounding area.
The Queensland government is committed to keeping communities safe, and transforming the story of young people in the justice system. The government’s 2019-20 State budget included funds to expand existing facilities and build a new youth detention centre. The new centre will accommodate around 32 young people, and the WMYDC will share some administration and ancillary services with the BYDC. Because both centres will have small beds, they will have stronger opportunities to implement dynamic and static security measures.
The Queensland Government’s response to the concerns raised by prisoners in the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre is a significant step forward. In May, the Department of Justice introduced legislation to allow ASIO to question children as young as 14. The proposed legislation has raised questions about the safeguards that should be in place for the rights of children in the detention center. Furthermore, after the outbreak of Covid-19, the Queensland Human Rights Commission has requested an independent inspector to investigate the conditions at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre.
Amnesty International Australia obtained documents describing incidents at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. The CYDC is predominantly Indigenous, with 89% of detainees being Indigenous. However, in January 2013, staff at CYDC restrained a 17-year-old boy in leg and handcuffs, despite his suicide risk. Amnesty Australia is calling for reforms to prevent further incidents.
The Queensland government has since conducted an independent review of its youth detention system. The review found understaffed centres, inadequately trained staff, and a lack of security. In addition, CCTV cameras were frequently covered by detainees. Despite these issues, the government has reportedly invested millions in youth detention centres. The situation has led to a surge of controversy around youth detention. There have been a number of reports, including a recent report on the Don Dale Detention Centre which raised concerns over poor conditions at a youth detention centre.
The Office of Queensland Ombudsman received information about the problems and disruptions at BYDC, and is investigating them. The investigation focused on safety, security, and management issues at the BYDC. It also investigated staff interactions with CYDC young people, and whether the conditions at the centre are conducive to the safety of young people. It also found that some young people spent the entire 10-day separation period in temporary holding areas.