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Victoria’s $204m youth detention plan faces criticism from within Labor
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll has announced a $204m plan to detain children who commit low or mid-level offences in secure facilities, including the former Malmsbury youth justice centre. The proposal promises schooling, treatment for drug and alcohol use, and life skills, but has drawn criticism from legal experts, Aboriginal organisations, unions and members of his own Labor party.
Former Aboriginal children’s commissioner Meena Singh said the plan risks presenting imprisonment as therapy and punishing children for trauma. Labor MPs have privately questioned its political strategy, while union secretary Luke Hilakari criticised detention for offences such as shoplifting and vandalism. Polls cited in the article put Labor’s primary vote at 18% and 23%, with one finding it 18 points behind the Coalition on crime.
In short
- Victoria plans to spend $204m on detaining some young offenders.
- Critics say the policy risks punishing children for trauma and disadvantage.
- Labor figures are concerned about the plan’s political costs.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Even Labor MPs are at a loss over the Victorian premier’s ‘tough love’ plan for youth offenders”.