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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-02 Daily Xml
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JUVENILE DETENTION

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Youth a question relating to juvenile detention.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Media reports suggest that an 11 year old girl was forced to stay two nights at the Magill Training Centre after being arrested in Mount Gambier for allegedly assaulting her sister and care workers in late April. Families SA proposed that the 11 year old girl be held at the Magill Training Centre until departmental staff were free to transport her home to Mount Gambier. Senior Judge McEwen is reported to have said that the department had better recanvass the situation, as he thought we could do better than holding an 11 year old girl in Magill for another night. My questions are:

1. Does the minister consider that it is appropriate for an 11 year old girl to be detained in a secure facility such as Magill?

2. If a lack of secure accommodation in Mount Gambier contributed to the decision to transfer the girl to Adelaide, what is the government doing to reduce the risk of a recurrence?

3. If lack of secure emergency accommodation in Adelaide contributed to the decision to accommodate the 11 year old girl in Magill, what is the government doing to reduce the risk of a recurrence on that basis?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I can provide some information to the council about the situation raised by the Hon. Mr Wade in his question.

The 11 year old in question was admitted to the Magill Training Centre on police custody at 6.55am on 22 April 2012. I understand that it is alleged that the girl committed a range of offences in her alternative care placement in Mount Gambier. The police refused bail and a subsequent magistrates bail review occurred by phone. The magistrates bail review did not overturn the original decision to refuse bail, and the girl was subsequently transported by police to Magill Training Centre.

The girl was placed in the general population. The girl's accommodation unit at the training centre was kept under constant supervision. I understand the girl was held in Magill Training Centre until the next available court hearing on 23 April 2012. Staff in my department provided Families SA with full details of her location and wellbeing and the pending court hearing date. I understand the girl was released from the Adelaide Youth Court on 23 April 2012 into the care of Families SA.

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