Andrews Government needs to toughen up and apply the law to stop prison riots

Shadow Attorney-General, John Pesutto

Claims by some lawyers this morning that the transfer of violent and mature-age youths in youth facilities to adult facilities would breach Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities are nonsense.

Victorian law has for many years permitted the transfer of violent youth offenders to adult facilities and Victoria’s Charter Act expressly exempts the Youth Parole Board and Adult Parole Board from the Charter’s operation.

(Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and Charter Of Human Rights And Responsibilities (Public Authorities) Regulations 2013)

There are reasons for having laws that allow for the transfer of violent youth offenders to adult facilities and those reasons have never been so compelling given widespread prison rioting that is the worst Victorians have ever witnessed.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Attorney-General John Pesutto:

“It was Daniel Andrews’ soft approach to violent crime that created Victoria’s prison crisis in the first place.

Daniel Andrews has to toughen up and stare down his key supporters even if he agrees with them.

The laws in place to enable to transfer of violent youth offenders to adult facilities are there to be used and Daniel Andrews for once must put community safety first by seeing that those laws are applied.”

Media contact: James Duncan      0457 758 018         james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au