The National Network and Sisters Inside have issued this joint statement to state that the Queensland LNP’s latest policy proposal, disguised as part of their ‘Making Our Community Safer’ plan, is nothing short of draconian. ‘Their new laws, if passed, will allow the courts to consider the full criminal history of children during sentencing, a measure that will disproportionately target Aboriginal children and fuel the mass incarceration of children and young people across the state,’ said Debbie Kilroy, CEO of Sisters Inside.
‘These outdated and populist policies will see the inclusion of police cautions, restorative justice agreements, and breaches of supervised release orders as part of a child’s criminal record, which will follow them into adulthood,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘The LNP is openly attacking vulnerable children under the guise of safety. By forcing judges and magistrates to consider these factors, they are effectively ensuring that a child’s past mistakes will haunt them for life,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The LNP is so desperate to gain power that they are prepared to throw our children under a bus to get there. Their only platform seems to be putting children in cages,’ said Tabitha Lean or the National Network. ‘This is a blatant continuation of the failed ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric that has repeatedly proven to cause more harm than good, especially to Aboriginal children, who are already mass incarcerated in the punishment system,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The LNP’s proposal strips away any possibility of a second chance for children. Instead of providing the necessary support for children to change the trajectory of their lives, they are condemning them to a future of punishment and incarceration,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘This policy is particularly alarming for Aboriginal children, who already face systemic discrimination and racial bias at every stage of the criminal legal process. With these laws, we will see a marked upsurge in the incarceration of Aboriginal children and young people, perpetuating the cycle of violence, disadvantage, and trauma in our communities,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Let’s be clear: these laws are not about making communities safer. They are about securing votes through fear and scapegoating vulnerable children,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘If the LNP truly cared about community safety, they would be investing in communities and essential services that address issues such as housing, poverty, education—not implementing draconian laws that target children,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The National Network and Sisters Inside urge the LNP and the voting public to reject this harmful agenda. ‘Our children are not political pawns. It is time to demand real solutions—ones that prioritise education, healing, and community-led solutions, not policies that condemn the most vulnerable to a life behind bars,’ said Tabitha Lean.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226