Sisters Inside and the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls unequivocally condemn the Queensland Government’s decision to push through the Adult Crime, Adult Time legislation. ‘This law represents a shameful erosion of children’s human rights in Queensland and a dangerous precedent for justice in this state,’ said Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside.
Queensland’s Attorney-General has openly admitted that the legislation will:
- Treat children less favourably than adults in the same circumstances, directly discriminating on the basis of age.
- Likely have a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are already overrepresented in youth detention.
Furthermore, the Attorney-General acknowledged that the amendments are incompatible with international human rights standards, including the principle that children should only be detained as a last resort—a cornerstone of both common law and international law. Despite these admissions, the government has chosen to disregard its obligations under Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019, undermining the very legal framework designed to protect vulnerable populations.
A Deliberate Attack on Children
‘This draconian legislation overrides a generation of Queenslanders’ legal and human rights, targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under the guise of public safety,’ said National Network member, Tabitha Lean. ‘In reality, it is a cowardly and lazy political manoeuvre, with no credible evidence of effectiveness. It does nothing to address the root causes of harm or the systemic inequalities that lead children to being criminalised in the first place, said Tabitha Lean.
‘Instead of investing in the services and supports that help families and communities thrive—keeping children in classrooms, homes, and communities—the LNP has chosen to lock up children and throw away the key,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘This is a deeply unimaginative, punitive approach that serves only to score cheap political points at the expense of our children’s lives and wellbeing,’ said Tabitha Lean.
A Failure of Leadership
‘The LNP’s actions today demonstrate a complete abdication of responsibility for governing. Black lives do not matter in Queensland under this government. Children’s lives do not matter,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are hyper-incarcerated, and this legislation will only worsen that injustice, said Debbie Kilroy. ‘We refuse to accept a Queensland that normalises racial discrimination and human rights violations. The LNP’s approach is not only cruel but also a regressive failure of leadership,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
Lessons from other jursidictions
The $75 million settlement for former detainees of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania announced on Monday, is a stark and horrifying reminder of the lifelong harm caused by locking up children. ‘It is a momentous but deeply tragic acknowledgment of decades of abuse, violence, and systemic failure. If the LNP in Queensland continue down this path, they will face the same reckoning in years to come—because prisons are violent places, and locking up children guarantees harm, not safety,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘This settlement lays bare the devastating truth: children’s imprisonment does not work—it destroys lives. The LNP’s decision to override children’s human rights in Queensland echoes the same harmful practices that led to this historic class action in Tasmania. If they do not change course, they will not only fail a generation of children but also leave a legacy of abuse, trauma, and institutional violence that the state will one day have to answer for,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The Ashley Youth Detention Centre settlement is a warning Queensland cannot afford to ignore. Every dollar of that $75 million represents a life damaged by a system that prioritises punishment over care. The LNP’s decision to expand children’s incarceration ensures Queensland is on the same destructive trajectory, creating harm and trauma for generations to come,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The evidence is clear: prisons are inherently violent spaces, especially for children. The Ashley Youth Detention Centre settlement demonstrates the catastrophic human cost of ignoring this reality. Queensland’s LNP government must ask themselves: is this the future they want for their state? A future where the abuse of children becomes a dark chapter in history—and one they will be forced to answer for in court? Said Tabitha Lean.
A Call to Action
Sisters Inside and the National Network call on the Queensland Government to repeal this harmful legislation immediately and to commit to evidence-based solutions that support, rather than punish, children. This includes:
- Funding community-led services that address the root causes of harm.
- Keeping children in classrooms and providing the resources they need to succeed.
‘Our children deserve better. Queensland deserves better. We will not stand by idly while our children are under siege by a government content to use them as political footballs,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226
