Two human rights experts have delivered a sharp critique of the Queensland government’s latest youth justice reforms, describing them as “incompatible with fundamental child rights”.
State parliament is expected to approve the second phase of the LNP’s flagship “adult crime, adult time” legislation this week.
The first set of changes, introduced in December, allowed juveniles charged with serious offences such as murder and manslaughter to be prosecuted as adults and subjected to harsher sentences.
If the proposed amendments to the Making Queensland Safer laws are enacted, children found guilty of an additional 20 serious offences—including rape, attempted murder, arson, torture, and sexual assault—will also face adult court and penalties.
In an open letter addressed to Australian authorities, United Nations special rapporteurs Alice Edwards (on torture) and Albert Barume (on the rights of Indigenous peoples) expressed serious concerns about the proposed changes.
“Many recent or proposed state laws, such as Queensland’s Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill, are at odds with core child rights principles,” they wrote.
“If passed, the bill would subject children to adult sentencing for a broader set of offences, which would particularly harm Indigenous youth already overrepresented in the justice system.”
The letter further stated: “Children are experiencing unnecessary harm to their safety, wellbeing, education, and future due to narrow policies on youth crime and incarceration.”
The UN experts called for a “child-focused approach,” pointing out that Queensland and many other jurisdictions in Australia have a minimum age of criminal responsibility of 10—lower than in most developed nations.
“The primary objective should always be to keep children out of jail,” they added.
“We are deeply concerned that the current trajectory is fostering the development of a marginalised class of future Australians.”
UN Criticism and Political Response
The United Nations has consistently criticised Queensland’s legislation. In December, Ann Skelton, chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, said the laws demonstrated a “flagrant disregard” for children’s rights.
In response to renewed criticism last month, Premier David Crisafulli delivered a pointed response in parliament.
“With the utmost respect to the United Nations, this chamber will make our own laws, decide how to protect Queenslanders, and be answerable to them—not to distant UN bureaucrats,” he said.
“We stand for Queenslanders, not unelected officials thousands of kilometres away.”
The Labor opposition backed the initial reforms and confirmed its support for the upcoming additions.
