Following the signing of Treaty, yesterday’s State Apology to the First Peoples of Victoria is an historic step, but without significant action to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care and youth justice, the State risks the need for another apology to future generations, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Meena Singh, warned today.
‘So many Elders and community members, some no longer with us, have given so much to get to this historic point. It will be for nothing if we continue to see the futures of Aboriginal children and young people written for them in policies and practices that continue to break up families in record numbers and laws that jail children and young people as adults,’ Commissioner Singh said.
Since commencing as Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in April 2022, the overrepresentation and number of Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care and youth justice – systems independently oversighted by the Commission for Children and Young People – has continued to rise.
With legislation passed through the Victorian Parliament last week to jail 14-year-olds for life for certain offences, and the knowledge that these laws are likely to disproportionately impact Aboriginal children and young people, the overrepresentation will continue.
‘At the Commission, our independent monitoring, oversight and advocacy uncovers the experiences of Aboriginal and other vulnerable children and young people who have been through significant trauma, only to experience more trauma when they are subjected to systems that do not understand their histories or needs,’ Commissioner Singh said.
‘Whilst yesterday’s Apology from the Victorian Government spoke of the rights of Aboriginal people and community, last week we saw the Attorney-General admit the “adult time for violent crime” legislation breaches the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities,’ Commissioner Singh said.
‘Sadly, there is a staggering disconnect between the positive actions of Treaty-making and the passing of legislation that condemns Aboriginal children and young people at disproportionate rates to systems of violence that do lifelong harm, but do not make our communities safer.’
‘Treaty-making should be rightfully celebrated by all Victorians as a step forward in the history of this State and the nation. However, we must see policy and laws that keep the rights, strength and safety of Aboriginal children and young people front and centre. In doing so, we will see improvement in the lives of many of the most vulnerable children and young people in Victoria,’ Commissioner Singh concluded.
Media contact:
Darren Lewin-Hill
0437 046 360
Senior Communications & Media Adviser
Commission for Children and Young People