Amnesty INternational slams NT govt’s $2.5m spend on reopening parts of Don Dale

Amnesty International has slammed the NT Government for spending millions on reopening sections of the Don Dale Correctional Centre.

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AMNESTY International has slammed the NT Government for spending $2.5 million on reopening sections of the Don Dale Correctional Centre, saying the money should instead be spent on trying to keep kids out of jail.

Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Lead Nolan Hunter said both Territory Families Minister Kate Worden and Chief Minister Michael Gunner were “told many times” that they would be forced to expand Don Dale, which the Royal Commission recommended be closed in 2017 due to its unsuitability to house kids.

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“The Minister for Territory Families and the Chief Minister were told many times before they rushed through their harmful youth justice reforms that it would result in Don Dale Youth Justice Centre overflowing with children who haven’t even been found guilty – and here we less than a month since the bill passed, there are so many kids on remand jammed into the centre that it needs to be expanded,” Mr Hunter said.

“We know from the Royal Commission and from recent eyewitness accounts that Don Dale isn’t suitable to hold children. We have heard stories of kids huddling in corners of cells to avoid being rained on, and being forced to stay in their cells for 9-hours a day due to short-staffing.”

Mr Nolan said this funding would be better spent on youth diversion programs.

“These programs need to be supported, not funding more infrastructure for a broken system.”

A $2.5 million contract was recently awarded to NT company C & R Constructions Pty Ltd for the refurbishment of two of the detention centre’s blocks.

The upgrades were flagged by Ms Worden in April, with this contract forming part of a $5 million package to refurbish “non-utilised’ parts of Don Dale.

Ms Worden said the funding would go to ensuring kids would be detained in a safe environment.

“This funding will support a number of safety, security and amenity upgrades for supported bail accommodation facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs – designed to provide a safe environment with the appropriate supports to enable a young person to achieve their bail conditions.”