It is widely known that Queensland, and in fact all States and territories in Australia, continues to uphold laws, policies and practices that impact negatively on the rights and well-being of children and young people and fail to serve the wider public interest. This is particularly true for First Nations young people, many of whom face unique challenges of intergenerational trauma, institutional racism and social disadvantage in addition to the larger range of issues affecting children engaged with the criminal justice system (CJS).
The ongoing and worsening crisis of youth justice in Queensland, and in particular the over-representation of First Nations youth in criminal justice systems, is evidence of a broken system. The countless inquiries, reports and evidence-based recommendations on the topic are proof that the status quo is not working, and that minor reform will get us more of the same results. The research is very clear that the current approach in Queensland has been highly ineffective in terms of building safer communities and reducing crime.