In light of the recent published concerns by the national children’s commissioner, Anne Hollonds regarding the documented distressing conditions faced by children in police watch houses, we continue to condemn the imprisonment of children. It is unacceptable that any child should be subjected to such inhumane treatment.
‘We strongly believe that no child should be in a cage. Every child deserves to be supported within their community, where they can grow, learn, and thrive. It is an extraordinary misuse of resources to imprison a child, especially when these funds could be better spent on ensuring children remain in their schools, homes and communities. By reallocating these resources towards education, health, and community support, we can foster environments where children grow up healthy, safe, and well-supported,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘Our current system is abusing our children, creating a school-to-prison pipeline that devastates entire generations,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘We are criminalising disabled children and failing them in every aspect, from health to education. This systemic failure is not just a breach of human rights; it is an abomination,’ said Tabitha Lean.
Anne Hollonds has highlighted the dire conditions in Queensland watch houses, where children, many with cognitive disabilities and brain injuries, are held in cells designed for violent adults. These children, often on remand and not yet found guilty of any crime, are deprived of natural light, fresh air, education, and rehabilitation. They are, in essence, kept in cages.
‘The treatment of these children is horrifying. They are placed in isolation rooms, often the size of storage cupboards, when their behaviour becomes too difficult to manage. These children are traumatised and distressed, and the lack of proper care and support only exacerbates their suffering,’ said Debbie Kilroy. “I know this suffering intimately having been incarcerated from the time I was 13 years old. The only thing that has changed in the 50 years since I was first criminalised in Queensland is the number of prisons has increased. The treatment of children continues to become more violent, and the numbers of jail cells continues to expand. When will it stop?’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘It costs over $1 million a year to imprison a child. Imagine if this money was spent on keeping kids healthy, housed, and in school. All of the evidence indicates that early support is what truly keeps communities safe,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘Our most vulnerable children are most often victim-survivors themselves of a violent system, and we must re-orient our efforts to focus on the safety and wellbeing of these children’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The National Network call on the federal government to take responsibility for the wellbeing of our children, to work with states and territories in regularly addressing child safety and wellbeing, and to work towards a complete decarceration model where we can abolish children’s prisons,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘It is time for us to reimagine how we ensure that children can grow up healthy, safe, and well-supported. We must shift our focus from punishment and exile to care and support. By doing so, we can create a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive,’ said Tabitha Lean.
For further comment, please contact Tabitha Lean 0499 780 226 or Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474
