The Greens have criticised the state government’s plans to consider implementing “adult crime, adult time” laws modelled on Queensland’s approach to youth justice, calling the idea “extreme”.
Greens spokesperson for Children and Young People, Cecily Rosol, has accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of abandoning his commitment to the Commission of Inquiry by contemplating laws they say have been widely condemned internationally.
“The Premier promised he would lead a government with heart, but if he goes ahead with these laws his legacy will be making a deliberate decision to violate the rights of children,” Rosol said.
The government’s potential shift follows increased community concern about youth crime incidents, particularly in Glenorchy.
Police Minister Felix Ellis confirmed the government is considering all options, including Queensland’s contentious model.
“Our communities are clearly fed up when it comes to youth crime and so are we as a government. We’ll be taking strong action,” Ellis said.
“We’ve seen in Queensland strong success from adult crime, adult time, a reduction of about a third of those serious crimes committed by youth offending.”
Ellis said approximately 50 young people are responsible for half of all youth crime in Tasmania.
“One of the worst things that you could do for a young person is to teach them that there are no consequences for their actions,” he said.
“So we are immediately beginning work on future policies so that we can address this issue.”
He insists there has been “a spike in recent years of youth offending in Tasmania, particularly in violent and very serious offending.”
The Greens say Queensland’s laws have faced extensive criticism from human rights organisations, with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child describing them as a “flagrant disregard for children’s rights under international law.”
“There is no denying there is community concern in some parts of the state about youth crime – especially in relation to a spate of recent incidents in Glenorchy,” Rosol said.
“The government absolutely needs to make sure this situation is addressed, and that community safety is assured.”
“But we have seen all over the world that punitive crackdowns don’t work and can actually make things even worse in the long term.”
Minister Ellis said the government would “consult broadly” but says community safety will be the number one priority.
