In what is being looked as violation of human rights, the Queensland’s Liberal National Party government in Australia, came up with a contentious youth crime bill, acknowledging it will “directly discriminate” against children.
Prime Minister David Crisafulli, placed the bill stating the Queensland safer bill would “serve as a deterrence to crime. They will reduce the number of victims.”
This would mean that here after in Australia, children can be sentenced to life behind bars for five offences, including manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and a form of robbery and burglary. They must be sentenced to life, with a minimum 20-year non-parole period, If convicted of murder.
“The amendments will treat children less favourably than adults in the same circumstances and therefore directly discriminate on the basis of age, limiting their right to enjoy their right to liberty without discrimination, their right to equal protection of the law without discrimination and their right to equal and effective protection against discrimination,” the statement says.
Based on the government’s statement of compatibility with human rights, the bill will disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are already overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
Attorney General Deb Frecklington conceded that the bill may increase the number of children in state watch houses, resulting in “limitations to the protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” and undermining their right to humane treatment.
The legislation has received backlash from human rights organisations, lawyers, experts and also the state’s human rights commissioner.
Queensland’s human rights commissioner, Scott McDougall, said that the new youth crime laws – which will bring about life sentences for children “who still have their baby teeth” are evidence that the “society that has lost its way”.
