Call for urgent child justice reforms following death of teenager in WA youth detention centre

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss, National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds, and Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay have expressed their sadness and disappointment following the death yesterday of a First Nations teenager who was incarcerated in Western Australia’s Banksia Hill youth detention centre.

The media is reporting that the young person passed away overnight after being found unresponsive in his cell. 

Commissioner Kiss: “The death of a child is devastating. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family and community of the 17-year-old boy.

“This is the second First Nations teenager who has died in detention in Western Australia in just the last 12 months, following the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd last October.

“Removing our children from their families and communities is a continuation of colonial policies and practices. The impact of locking them in institutions where they are out of sight and out of mind, is devastating.

"How many more tragedies and deaths in custody need to happen before we acknowledge that the current arrangements are not working. Kids need care and support so they can thrive in their development, have hope for their futures and feel they are loved, valued and belong.”   

Commissioner Hollonds: "I am shocked and deeply saddened at the passing of this teenage boy, and I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family. 

“We know that locking up children in these kinds of facilities has serious health and mental health impacts.

“Last week my report ‘Help Way Earlier!’: How Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing was tabled in Federal Parliament. We urgently need the Commonwealth to make child safety and wellbeing a national priority and convene a National Taskforce for the federation to work together on the reform of child justice in this country based on evidence and human rights.

“I am ashamed of the way Australia is treating our most vulnerable children. Governments must be accountable for protecting children from harm when they are in their care.”

Commissioner Finlay: “This tragic incident is made even worse by the fact that serious concerns about the Banksia Hill facility have been highlighted repeatedly over many years, including evidence given by the Commission before the United Nations Committee Against Torture in 2022.

“We cannot wait any longer for these issues to be addressed. By failing to urgently respond to the crisis in our child justice systems we are failing our children and our communities.”

The Australian Human Rights Commission has written to the Western Australia Premier Roger Cook seeking an urgent meeting to discuss child justice policy and practice as well as the operation of the Banksia Hill facility.

Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897