Today, representatives from Sisters Inside attended the public hearing of the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee, which is conducting consultations on the “Making Queensland
Safer”Bill. ‘As an organisation that has worked with criminalised women and girls in Queensland for more than three decades, our submission draws on extensive frontline experience in the justice space. We know what works, we know what harms, and we know what our community needs to thrive,’ said Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside.
Sisters Inside & National Network vehemently opposes this legislation.
‘This Bill uses racial gendered violence to obliterate the human rights of children and young people. The government freely admits the amendments will cause undue harm to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, undermining both their legal and human under the guise of community safety,’ said Tabitha Lean, National Network organising member. ‘These laws fail Queenslanders—they fail children—and they fail the state’s commitment to justice and equity,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The Bill Will Not Make Queensland Safer
‘This legislation does not protect children; it violates their fundamental rights. By targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, it perpetuates systemic racism and injustice, undermining the safety and well-being of our community as a whole,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘When the human rights of one group are denied, we are all diminished. A society that turns its back on the most vulnerable sacrifices its own humanity and justice,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘We also object to the rushed and inadequate consultation process, which seems designed to avoid scrutiny. If properly examined, the public would recognise the devastating impact of these proposals—not just on individual lives, but on the perception of Queensland as a fair and just society,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘When the LNP assumed office, they exploited a fabricated “youth crime crisis,” ignoring evidence and adopting discredited “law and order” policies from other jurisdictions. Instead of acting with courage and intelligence, they chose to target vulnerable children, particularly Aboriginal children, through punitive measures proven ineffective – This is shameful,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The Solution: End the Criminalization of Children
‘Sisters Inside urges the committee to abandon this legislation. We know from decades of experience that community based support programs work. By investing in families, providing resources, and addressing the root causes of harm, we can build thriving communities without resorting to imprisonment,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Our Yangah program demonstrates this:
- Supported 97 girls in the last financial year.
- 70 of 97 were First Nations girls.
- Only 12 girls returned to prison, 8 of whom were in state care,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘We have consistently shown that providing holistic, culturally safe support prevents recriminalisation and breaks cycles of harm. If the government genuinely wants to reduce children’s incarceration, it should fund Sisters Inside to deliver this critical work,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
A Call to Action
‘If this legislation proceeds, Queensland will need to be held accountable on the global stage for violating children’s rights and undermining international commitments to justice and equality,’ said Tabitha Lean.
Sisters Inside and the National Network will not stand by silently:
- We will oppose the use of imprisonment to solve social problems caused by racial capitalism and underfunded social services.
- We will resist the targeting of Aboriginal children under the pretence of public safety.
- We will fight against policies that prioritise punishment over care.
Queensland Deserves Better
‘This legislation is not about justice; it is about cruelty and control. If passed, Queensland will declare that its government prioritises incarceration over community support, punishment over care, and systemic racism over equality – We refuse to let this happen without a fight,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226
