Tender documents reveal the ‘first quality’ food served to Victoria’s young offenders

YOUNG thugs will feast on top quality food in a menu makeover at Victoria’s youth justice centres. Victims of crime advocates say the first-class service is hard to stomach.

YOUNG thugs will feast on first class food in a menu shake-up at Victoria’s youth justice centres.

A government contract has revealed the top-class tucker keeping the state’s worst teen offenders well fed.

Chicken schnitzels, finger food and fillets of fish have all been flagged as possible dinner delights for detainees at the Parkville and Malsmbury lock ups.

And only premium mince — better than some sold in supermarkets — can be served as part of strict requirements for keeping the kiddie criminals happy and healthy.

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The call out for catering services has revealed the justice centre menus must consider “the food preferences” of the teens and include variety “to keep the meals interesting”.

The caterers must also provide two meat and a vegetarian option each meal and are prevented from repeating weekly menus or the same meal on specific days.

Under the new contract, to run for three years from July 2018, most of the young offenders won’t have to lift a finger.

They will also be delivered their individual “ready to eat” meals and most will have their dirty dishes washed for them.

“The menu must provide for food choice varied in flavour, colour, texture, shape and presentation,” tender documents said.

Inside Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre. Picture: Supplied

Victims of Crime Commissioner Greg Davies slammed the “soft” conditions.

“There are victims of these people who are doing it harder than they are in a youth justice centre,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be a pleasant place and it shouldn’t be an easy place.

“Some of these young people aren’t all that upset at the prospect of being sent to one.

“Part of that is because it’s not such a tough place to be.”

Powdered potato, artificial flavours and manufactured meats — expect chicken schnitzels, finger food, sausages and ham — are out as authorities rule that fresh is best.

“All fruits and vegetables are to be of first quality, and of maximum freshness,” the tender said.

“Frozen produce to be kept to a minimum level.”

Meat or fish must also be “first quality” with beef containing less than 10 per cent fat and diced lamb with minimum gristle.

Teen offenders have previously whinged about their taxpayer-funded tucker, with one telling an inquiry into the youth justice system that it was “no good”.

But the tender documents reveal that each month a unit at Malmsbury — with 15 to 17 offenders — ploughs through about six loaves of bread, 14 litres of milk and eight kilograms of fresh fruit, including pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon.

The teen thugs have also been bribed with pizza, Tim Tams and cakes in a bid to curb bad behaviour.

Pizza is delivered to Parkville Youth Justice Centre in November. Picture: Jason Edwards

Opposition spokeswoman for families and children Georgie Crozier said the government needed to “harden up” on youth justice.

“Many Victorian families would love to be able to afford this sort of choice and quality of food each week,” she said.

“Youth justice prisons shouldn’t be run as summer camps and some of these repeat violent offenders shouldn’t be dictating to the Andrews Government what they want.”

But Families and Children Minster Jenny Mikakos said the new catering contract was based on guidelines set up by the “hypocritical former liberal government.”

“Young offenders were certainly not on a diet of bread and water under the previous Liberal Government,” Ms Mikakos said.

A Department of Justice spokeswoman said the strict catering guidelines were based on the previous 2012 tender.

She said requesting “a variety of ingredients” was not unusual.

“Young offenders in youth justice centres have access to a range of food and standard meals,” she said.

“The requirements outlined as part of the tender for provision of catering services in youth justice reflect national guidelines recommending a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and meats.”

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