Jail ‘doesn’t meet’ torture conventions

NATIONAL Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell says conditions at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre do not meet Australia’s obligations under conventions against torture

NATIONAL Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell says conditions at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre do not meet Australia’s obligations under conventions against torture.

“The conditions are extremely poor. It’s an ageing facility designed as an adult maximum security prison,” she said.

“My lasting impression is one of cage wire and cement. It’s not a suitable place for children to be managed and cared for.”

She said there was a “pervasive sense of violence and aggression” at the centre and force and isolation were routinely used against children.

This led to a “powder keg” where situations such as the tear-gassing incident in August 2014 were more likely to occur.

Ms Mitchell said she was “deeply shocked and moved” to see the extent of the abuse in Don Dale.

“It’s unbelievable to think these things are happening in Australia today,” she said.

The alleged mistreatment of Alice Springs teenager Dylan Voller at the hands of the NT justice system was particularly harrowing, she said.

“One of the things that went through my mind when I watched that litany of poor treatment over many years was that Dylan had experienced was how does a young person recover from this.”

Ms Mitchell said the now 18-year-old should be offered “therapeutic support” to heal the scars left by the abuse.

“What is our obligation to these kids who have been abused, assaulted, demeaned and whose rights have been disregarded for so many years?”

NT Children’s Commissioner Colleen Gwynne, whose report into the tear-gassing incident was tabled to Parliament last year, said she was disappointed so many of her recommendations had not been implemented by the Territory Government.

“I would hope we might now see a co-ordinated, professional high level response to the issues raised in the Four Corners program and to youth justice issues in the Territory generally,” she said in a statement.