The United Nations has criticised Queensland’s youth crime laws, calling them incompatible with basic child rights. The special rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, and the special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, Albert K Barume, have urged the Queensland parliament to vote down the Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill.
Criticism from UN Experts
The rapporteurs said Australia’s criminal legal systems appear to be in crisis nationwide. They warned that current practices are creating a future underclass of Australians. The pair expressed concern about the harm caused to children’s safety, wellbeing, education, and life prospects. The UN experts also stated that the legislation would especially harm Indigenous children, who already face overrepresentation in the criminal system.
Second Round of Legislation Under Scrutiny
The Queensland parliament passed the first set of laws in December. These laws allow children convicted of 13 offences to be sentenced like adults. A second round of laws, proposing to include 20 more offences, is being considered this week. The government promoted these changes under the “adult crime, adult time” policy. Critics argue that these laws breach both domestic and international human rights laws.
Premier Responds to UN Concerns
Premier David Crisafulli dismissed the UN’s criticism. He stated that Queensland would decide its own laws. He said the government would be accountable only to Queenslanders, not to United Nations officials. Despite the strong rhetoric, the government admitted that both legislation tranches breach human rights.
Premier David Crisafulli
Admission of Human Rights Limitations
Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber acknowledged that the legislation limits several rights. She said the new laws limit the right to protection from cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. They also limit the right to humane treatment when children are deprived of liberty. The laws increase the use of police watch houses to detain minors.
Offences Rare Among Youth
Data from the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support shows the targeted offences are rare among children. Some offences have not been committed by a child in the past five years. These include accessory after the fact to murder and kidnapping for ransom. Just one child was convicted of kidnapping during that period. In 2024, children committed only 467 counts of the new offences.
Youth Crime in Context
Police reported 624,414 total offences in 2024. Of these, youth crime accounted for about 13 percent, according to the Queensland Audit Office. Despite the relatively low numbers, the government continues to expand penalties against minors.
Opposition Offers Support
Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Labor would support expanding the laws. He said the LNP holds a majority, so the legislation would pass regardless. Labor had already supported the first round of laws. Miles said the party would not block the government from correcting what it saw as its own mistakes.
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UN Urges Lawmakers to Reject Bill
Edwards and Barume appealed to Queensland parliamentarians to reject the amendment bill. They said the law will worsen inequality and damage prospects for vulnerable children. They stressed that reforms should focus on long-term wellbeing, not punitive responses. The rapporteurs expressed particular concern for Indigenous children, already disadvantaged in the justice system.
UN Rapporteur’s Local Connection
Edwards, a human rights lawyer, is the first Australian appointed as the UN’s special rapporteur on torture. Her role includes monitoring global adherence to human rights in detention and criminal justice systems.
Legislation to Proceed Despite Criticism
The Queensland government remains committed to passing the legislation. It has maintained that community safety must come first. The laws are expected to pass due to the LNP’s strong majority in parliament.
Continued Debate Over Youth Justice
The UN’s warning has added international pressure to a growing local debate. Advocates for children’s rights argue the legislation undermines rehabilitation. Legal experts warn the new laws could violate international treaties to which Australia is a party. Critics fear lasting consequences for vulnerable youth. The legislation’s impact on Indigenous communities remains a key concern as the debate continues.
