Latest news with #LiberalNationalgovernment
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
UN slams 'adult crime, adult time' expansion
International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states. International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
UN slams 'adult crime, adult time' expansion
International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." Queensland parliament is set to continue debating the amended laws which are expected to pass late on Wednesday. It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
UN slams 'adult crime, adult time' expansion
International human rights experts have slammed one state, accusing its government of causing undue harm to children as it bolsters controversial youth crime laws. The Queensland government is set to add 20 more offences to its landmark "adult crime, adult time" laws, meaning children will face lengthy sentences for committing a raft of crimes. New offences include sexual assault and rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, arson and attempted robbery. The Liberal National government quickly passed the laws central to its 2024 election win to ensure children as young as 10 serve a life sentence for murder and manslaughter, while prison time for offences like grievous bodily harm doubled. The decision to expand the laws came in the wake of several serious crimes, including a teenager who was charged with attempted murder following the alleged stabbing attack on a supermarket worker in Ipswich. The "adult crime, adult time" laws have previously been slammed by youth advocates who say the scheme breaches the human rights of children. But the state government has again earned the ire of international human rights experts who say the laws disproportionately impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and well-being, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the United Nations' Alice Jill Edwards and Albert K Barume said. The UN has previously criticised the Queensland government for its controversial laws. Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ann Skelton, posted a video before the laws were passed in December, saying they were a "flagrant disregard" for children's human rights. Now the two UN human rights experts have written a letter to Australian authorities expressing concerns about the expansion of Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. They said the amended laws would harm the lives of Aboriginal children and urged members of the state parliament to vote against the bill. "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned that present approaches are creating a future underclass of Australians." Queensland parliament is set to continue debating the amended laws which are expected to pass late on Wednesday. It is not the only state pursuing tough youth crime laws after Victoria recently passed an amendment to bail laws that included removing the principle of remand as a last resort for children. In NSW, controversial youth bail laws passed in 2024 make it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds to be released on serious charges while out on bail for similar offences. Bail laws in the Northern Territory were strengthened after a teenager was charged following a 71-year-old Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing. The UN experts said Australia may be violating its international obligations to children with Queensland's harsh criminal laws and the country's criminal age of responsibility, which is 10 in the Sunshine State and the Northern Territory and 14 in other states.
The Guardian
28-01-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Queensland halts prescription of puberty blockers and hormones for children with gender dysphoria
Children with gender dysphoria will be denied puberty blockers as a state government reviews hormone therapies for minors. The Queensland government launched the investigation after reports gender-affirming hormones had been given to children as young as 12 without authorised care. Health minister, Tim Nicholls, on Tuesday announced the independent review into the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. The state has immediately paused any new patients under 18 accessing pediatric gender therapies through the public system until the government considers the review's outcome. Kids already on a treatment plan – nearly 600 in total – can still access the services. Children experiencing gender dysphoria but unable to begin hormone therapy will still be able to access psychiatric and psychological support. Nicholls said the review was sparked by reports pediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north's Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent. Queensland's Liberal National government said a public interest disclosure was received regarding a 12-year-old being prescribed a puberty blocker without proper consultation in Cairns. Multi-disciplinary consultation must be sought for all under-14s who want to start puberty blockers which involves input from psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and family. Nicholls said an internal review found that the Cairns service provided unauthorised care to 42 children with 17 of those prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapies. It also found the service had deficiencies in credentialing and scope of practice, kept inadequate client records about multidisciplinary team discussions, and raised concerns about patient and parental consent. There were also delayed blood tests or bone mineral density tests for some patients. 'In short, assessment, diagnosis and treatment may not have aligned with Australian treatment guidelines,' Nicholls said on Tuesday. An investigation into the Cairns clinic is now under way looking at the health services delivered to patients and the governance framework, with a report expected by the end of June. The review into the Cairns service is in addition to a broader statewide investigation into the use of hormone therapies in children and whether there should be more regulations on medical gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care for young people has come under scrutiny globally with the controversial Cass review in the UK ultimately leading to the National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in children. An independent review in 2024 found Queensland children with gender dysphoria were not being rushed or coerced into receiving puberty blockers or hormones. It did however identify the state's gender services were struggling to keep up with the waitlists, with times blowing out to 577 days depending on the urgency for care. The review said children were entitled to robust care regardless of the debate around puberty blockers, hormones and long-term effects. 'The service … supports the right of the child or adolescent with diverse gender experiences to express themselves and access health care,' it said.
