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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-03-04 Daily Xml
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Youth Crime

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General about youth crime.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Last month, the Commissioner for Children and Young People released a paper entitled 'The Need for Rights-Based Reform of South Australia's Child Justice System'. In this paper she states, 'Access to diversionary programs is inconsistent and inequitable, particularly for Aboriginal children, who are over represented in the child justice system.' My questions to the Attorney are:

1. As the Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, does he believe that these programs are satisfactory and adequate?

2. In light of concerns in the media and the community regarding youth crime and recidivist offenders, what is the government doing to ensure diversionary programs are appropriately used, while keeping the community safe?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for her questions. As the honourable member would know only too very well herself, programs and the administration of the youth justice system, particularly the youth justice group, Kurlana Tapa, reside with the Minister for Human Services, in this government the Hon. Nat Cook, the member for Hurtle Vale. I have had many conversations with the minister responsible about issues to do with youth justice and youth detention, access to programs and timeliness in terms of court appearances, and I know it is an area that the minister takes very seriously and is always looking at what can be done to improve access to programs and access to justice for young people.

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