The National Network categorically condemn the Northern Territory Government’s relentless assault on Aboriginal children through the caging and punishment of children and young people.
‘The Finocchiaro Government’s actions are an affront to justice, human rights, and dignity. The National Network demand the immediate release of all children currently held on remand in the Northern Territory – which represents 85% of the children held in custody. These children have not yet been found guilty of any crime,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The punishing of children, who are presumed innocent under the law, simply for the “crime” of being vulnerable, poor, or Aboriginal, is a systemic violation of their basic human rights,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘It is an egregious abuse of power. Holding children on remand, with no conviction, should itself be considered a criminal act. The treatment of these children must be exposed for what it truly is: a violation of their rights to safety, education, and dignity,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The National Network stand in solidarity with the Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), who have rightly pointed out that the detention of Aboriginal children and young people in the Northern Territory is now at its highest level since the 2016/17 Don Dale Royal Commission,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘This horrific milestone follows the introduction of punitive bail laws earlier this year, laws which have doubled youth detention numbers, disproportionately affecting Aboriginal children,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘Of the 60 children and young people in prison as of yesterday, 95% are Aboriginal, and a staggering 85% are unsentenced, many of them on remand or awaiting a warrant. These children have not been proven guilty of any crime, yet their liberty has been stripped away, and they are subjected to inhumane conditions,’ said Tabitha Lean.
These conditions include 24-hour lighting, overcrowding, lack of access to education, inadequate healthcare, and forced separation from their families and Country.
‘These children are being subjected to mental and physical abuse, in violation of both domestic and international human rights standards. We cannot stand idly by while the Northern Territory Government continues to perpetuate this tragedy,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
NAJAA reported a case of a 13-year-old Aboriginal child who was arrested for allegedly shoplifting food. ‘This highlights the dehumanising and reckless nature of this system. This young child, who reportedly has several diagnosed disabilities, was held in a watch house for 24 hours with lights on throughout the night, denied access to his medication, and was not allowed to contact his foster carer. This cruelty was inflicted despite his immediate release being granted by the Youth Justice Court once his case was heard. This is just one example of the growing injustices faced by Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
The Productivity Commission’s recent report on the state of youth detention shows a troubling trend, one that highlights the deplorable state of the current legal system. ‘The Northern Territory is now the worst-performing jurisdiction under the National Agreement of Closing the Gap, and the government’s solution is more imprisonment, more punishment, and more harm. This approach is deeply violent and will only lead to further injustice and trauma,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
The National Network call on the Northern Territory Government to immediately halt the expansion of children’s imprisonment, especially for children who have not been convicted of any crime. We demand an end to the racially discriminatory practices that are causing irreparable harm to Aboriginal children. We also call for a fundamental shift in how we view justice, away from punitive measures and toward community-led, transformative solutions that prioritise the wellbeing and dignity of all children.
‘The continued imprisonment of Aboriginal children and young people is a stain on this nation. It is an ongoing legacy of colonial violence that we must all work together to end,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The National Network call for:
- The immediate release of all children on remand in the Northern Territory.
- A halt to the practice of imprisoning children who have not been found guilty of a crime.
- A full review of children and youth detention policies and a commitment to transformative justice.
- The creation of community-led solutions to imprisonment that focus on education and healing.
‘It is time to reject this cycle of punishment, to reject the caging of children, and to demand justice for the most vulnerable members of our society,’ said Tabitha Lean.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226
