Sisters Inside strongly opposes the Queensland LNP Government’s ‘Adult crime, Adult time’ legislation, set to be rushed through Parliament this week. This punitive policy is a dangerous step backward that targets Aboriginal children and other vulnerable young people while ignoring the real crises plaguing our communities.
‘This rushed legislative push has given advocates and frontline services like Sisters Inside who have been working in this space for two decades, little opportunity to scrutinise the legislation, provide informed critique, or evaluate the devastating impacts it will have on the children we work with. The government’s lack of transparency and haste demonstrates a reckless disregard for the lives of children and families,’ said Tia Richards, President of Sisters Inside.
The new government has also revealed its failure to adequately plan for the consequences of its own policies. It did not even have internal modelling for children’s prison bed capacity until this week, despite promising to implement its youth crime agenda immediately upon election. ‘This glaring oversight highlights a dangerous reality: as this legislation sweeps more children into its punitive net, prison numbers will explode,’ said Tia Richards.
Sisters Inside CEO, Debbie Kilroy states: ‘With a looming shortage of prison beds, the government will inevitably use this crisis to justify diverting much-needed funding from vital community services into prisons and policing. This represents a catastrophic misuse of public resources at a time when Queenslanders are facing critical challenges, including:
- Chronic underfunding of public housing
- A cost-of-living crisis
- Inadequate investment in youth services, education, and community programs’
‘These are the real crises—not a manufactured youth crime issue. Evidence clearly shows that harsher punitive measures do not reduce social harms; they only deepen the cycles of disadvantage and harm,’ said Debbie Kilroy. ‘Other jurisdictions with similar policies have seen their incarceration rates soar, without any measurable improvement in community safety,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Let’s not be mistaken here, this legislation is not just ill-conceived; it is racially motivated. Aboriginal children will bear the brunt of these draconian laws, further entrenching the mass incarceration crisis. For a government to implement policies that disproportionately target vulnerable children—children who are already navigating systemic racism, poverty, and intergenerational trauma—is inexcusable,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘Queensland must reject outdated and ineffective “tough-on-crime” approaches. Sisters Inside call on the government to focus on addressing the root causes of social harm, such as housing insecurity, poverty, and lack of access to mental health services. We demand investment in community-led, evidence-based solutions and community services that prioritise care and support over punishment,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
Sisters Inside stands in solidarity with the children and families who will be directly impacted by this legislation.
‘We will not stop fighting against policies that harm our children and communities,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474