The National Network are incredibly disappointed in the South Australian Labor Government’s announcement to introduce a “three strikes” bail policy targeting children and young people.
‘This decision lacks imagination, courage, and care, and simply follows a disturbing national trend of tightening bail laws and criminalising children and young people, despite South Australia having one of the lowest youth crime rates in the country,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Introducing a presumption against bail for children — some as young as 10 — is a disgraceful abandonment of basic human rights,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Framing children as “recidivists” for surviving systems designed to criminalise and surveil them is not justice, it’s punishment masquerading as policy,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Children are being pushed further into the punishment system, not because of who they are, but because of what systems do to them,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘This “tough on crime” response trades in fear and stigma, not evidence or compassion. The idea that a child convicted of three offences is beyond so called “rehabilitation” ignores everything we know about trauma, poverty, and systemic disadvantage,’ said Tabitha Lean. “Labelling them as “serious young offenders” does not make communities safer — it just sets more kids up to be caged, brutalised and discarded,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘We must resist this punitive turn. What we need is a commitment to care, not cages. We need investment in services that keep our kids in communities and classrooms, not in courtrooms and cells. That means housing, healing, education, connection, and culturally safe supports, not surveillance and sentencing,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘While the Government claims to be investing in intervention, the paltry $3 million announced will do nothing to offset the harm this bill will unleash. You cannot fund justice on scraps while fuelling the fire with punishment,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The National Network demand that the South Australian Government withdraw this bill immediately and centre children’s wellbeing over political point-scoring.
‘Children need love, safety and support, not the cold violence of a criminal legal system designed to harm them,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 and Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226.
