WA’s Youth Justice Crisis: Greens call to shut down unit 18 and set sights on child protection policy

WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt has called for the immediate closure of Hakea Prison’s controversial Unit 18, accusing the Government of neglecting regional youth justice by failing to deliver a long-promised on-country facility in the Kimberley. “The idea that we take kids from the Kimberley and put them in adult prisons in Perth has to stop. Having much better on-country facilities that actually work with communities has to be at the heart of it,” Mr Pettitt said in Broome on January 29. “It is an incredible waste of money, costing over a million dollars per child per year to lock these kids up in places like Unit 18, which is an adult prison. These kids are coming out more damaged than they went in.” Mr Pettitt said he was not alone in his criticism with even the courts pushing back against the policy. “The current system is totally broken. Magistrates are refusing to send kids there because they are locked up for more than 20 hours a day in solitary confinement. Courts in Perth have even ruled that the Government’s actions are unlawful, yet they continue,” he said. He said it was part of the Government’s broader mismanagement in the region, citing continued delays with the Government’s long-promised on-country facility. “The on-country facility has been really frustrating. Announcement after announcement, yet still no facility. Even a year ago, they said they had a provider, but we are still waiting for action,” Mr Pettitt said. “We’ve seen so many promises—on youth justice, health, housing—just not delivered. People in Broome should be frustrated and angry because the Government, despite billion-dollar surpluses, is failing to deliver for regional communities.” In response Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said conditions had “improved” at Unit 18. “Conditions have vastly improved in Unit 18 and Banksia Hill with young people now getting more mental health support, spending more time out of cells and (getting) a quality education,” he said. However, Mr Papalia steered clear of addressing Mr Pettitt’s comments concerning the on-country facility instead citing other youth diversionary programs in the region. “We have provided almost $10 million to the Kimberley Juvenile Justice Strategy, which supports a range of Aboriginal-led programs across the region for vulnerable young people,” he said. “In 2024 our Government opened two Night Spaces in Broome and Fitzroy (Crossing), which provide a safe place for children who may have nowhere else to go as well as meals and access to wraparound services. “These programs have already shown positive outcomes with more than 400 individual young people engaging with these services and more than 4,100 total interactions since being established earlier this year.” Mr Pettitt also took aim at child protection policies and said he was not surprised a class action had been launched by Shine Lawyers against the Government over child removals which had allegedly created a “modern-day stolen generation”. “I’m not surprised it’s come to a class action. What we need is a wealthy WA State Government to invest properly in these communities and these kids, not a legal battle,” Mr Pettitt said. Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton said while it wasn’t appropriate to comment on ongoing legal action, keeping Aboriginal children in their families was a priority. “As a Labor government, we’ve had over eight years a priority around not only keeping children safe, but in particular around Aboriginal children and their care,” she said. “We legislated to ensure that our child protection practices with the principle of Aboriginal-led placements.” “Let’s be clear, children do best when they’re with family, and removing a child into care is done as a last resort. I’m really pleased that in the Kimberley, we have the highest rate in the State of children being placed with family and that’s my priority, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.” Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au. For culturally safe First Nations crisis support, you can give 13YARN a call on 13 92 76. They offer a free, confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lifeline: 13 11 14.