The National Human Rights Consultation Committee received over 35,000 written submissions, the largest public response to any government consultation in Australia's history. Some 87% were in favour of a human rights Act.
The National Human Rights Consultation Committee released its report in early October. It identifies major problems and inadequacies with human rights protection in Australia and in particular for those who are most marginalised and vulnerable.
The Committee's recommendations included:
- the enactment of a national Human Rights Act,
- better human rights education
- improving parliamentary scrutiny of human rights, and
- addressing acute disadvantage experienced by groups such as Indigenous people.
The Government is currently deciding how it will respond to these recommendations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO : NOW IS THE TIME to encourage the Government to adopt the Committee's recommendations.
Sign a pettion at www.getup.org.au/campaign/EnactOurAct, or
send an email to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd [kevin.rudd.mp@aph.gov.au], or Attorney General Robert McClelland [attorney@ag.gov.au]
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology released in September 2009 has found that jailing young people isn't effective. the study about NSW young offenders found that locking up juvenile offenders appeared to have no greater deterrent effect on the rate of re-offending than lesser non-custodial penalties.
That locking up young people is not particularly effective is not news to Youthlaw or to many in the juvenile justice system in Victoria. NSW locks up 2.5 times as many young people as Victoria does and yet has a higher youth crime rate.
In Victoria 3% of convicted young people are locked up.
75% of convicted young people commit relatively minor offences and receive a bond, fine or undertaking or are referred to a diversionary program. They are given deferred sentences so they can access services to address underlying issues. Most do not re-offend or if so re-offend once or twice.
The remaining 22% have committed more serious crimes and receive a range of supervisory orders. Under these they receive assessment to identify underlying issues drive and casework support and supervision from juvenile justice workers. They also have the option to attend group conferencing that has been shown to reduce re-offending and the seriousness of re-offending.
Addressing the underlying reasons why young people offend is highly effective in reducing re-offending. Commentators who consider this 'soft justice' don't know what they are talking about.
Young?
A student?
Homeless?
Strapped for Cash?
Travelling by public transport?
Stressed by fines?
Ticket Inspectors Got You Down?
Campaign Respect Wants To Hear From You!!!!
Campaign Respect has been started up by a group of young people here at Youthlaw. It’s a grassroots campaign using info and digital activism to mobilise young people to bring about social and political change.
Those of us who started the campaign are sick of being treated disrespectfully by ticket inspectors because we are young people.
Youthlaw also receives a lot of complaints from young people about their treatment by Public Transport Authorised Operators (AOs) or ticket inspectors. This ranges from disrespect and humiliation to verbal and physical abuse.
Volunteers have so far interviewed 350 young people at Federation Square and Flinders St station.
A website page is being set up so you can submit your experiences online You can submit your complaints in writing, text, and by photo and video footage.
A campaign Facebook will enable you to get involved.
Your experiences will be used to lobby for change.
If you feel like you’ve been unfairly targeted by ticket inspectors on Public Transport…
Send your experiences and complaints to us to:
In August 2009 the media reported that Victoria Police and the state government support increased police powers on the streets following the release of Victoria Police crime statistics for 08/09.
The next day The Age carried a story that assault data over 5 years indicated that 'youths 'from north and west suburbs were largely responsible for CBD violence.
However the crime statistics quoted in both articles were for adults (18 years and over) and not young people.
The crime statistics actually tell us that youth crime against the person (homicide, rape, robbery, assault and abduction) is down by 3.3% whereas adult crimes against the person have increased by 5.1%.
Youth and adult offending related to property are up but not significantly.
There has been an increase in public behaviour offences committed by young people (25%) however the larger increase was for adults (94.3%).
No surprises that young people feature high in offensive language and public behaviour offences
The adult increases were largely due to the new CBD entertainment precinct laws.
We have been told by VIctoria Police staff that the bans are largely against people with disposable income, from the suburbs and adult men and women in their 20's and 30s.
The new laws proposed are increased stop and search powers, move-on laws and a new offence of disorderly conduct.
There is no doubt that the proposed offences WILL have the most impact on young people and others like cultural groups who are in public places. They will be harassed, intimidated, moved on and charged. Adults who are the main perpetrators will largely avoid this police response.
These offences will result in on-the-spot fines of $234 that young people will be unable to pay.
It is disappointing to see the government and Victoria Police having this knee jerk law and order response . Young people deserve more. We hope they don't get sold out in rush for election advantage.
New changes mean you have to be working, training or studying to get the Youth Allowance. Otherwise you'll have to go on to Newstart.
In April the Council of Australian Governments meeting (COAG) agreed on a ‘Compact with Young Australians’, to get more young people taking up education and training.
To get the Youth Allowance if you are under the age of 17 you must be “earning or learning”, (in full time school, training or work).
Anyone under the age of 20 and not working will be provided with a training place with that if completed will result in a year 12 or equivalent VET qualification; and
Anyone under the age of 25 and not working is guaranteed a training place to ensure they have the skills to assist getting a job.
These changes take effect from 1 July 2009 for those under 20, with the under-25 changes due to start next year.
The Federal budget handed down on May 12th announced further changes that will mainly effect students applying for Youth Allowance.
Youthlaw had this to say about the changes:
In reality there are a lot of young people on youth allowance who are homeless or doing it hard and aren't able to take up training or education. These young people will be forced into Newstart and will get breached when they don't get the letters or comply with rules they can't meet.
Youthlaw's Real Rights Project is talking to young people about their rights. Young people tell us about some of their human rights issues, what rights are important to them and how empowering it feels to advocate for change.
The Brumby Government recently announced a Promote Respect plan. The government says the intention is to help young Victorians to connect to community and respect themselves and others. Vic Gov't Respect Agenda
The Respect Agenda coincides with increasing concern and media coverage of youth violence. At its most extreme young people are being portrayed as generation out-of-control.
The policy is being referred to by the government when there is coverage of violence. A recent example was in response to the gang of men who attacked a security guard at Docklands despite the fact that they looked like adults or even middle-aged. Alcohol fuelled violence is a focus. Once again the offenders are overwhelmingly not teenagers but adults between 20 and 35 with disposable income.
Even if the Respect agenda itself is ok it is too readily being used to sterotype young people and reinforce myths. Youthlaw has called for respect both ways Youthlaw is launchimg it's own Respect Campaign. You will be able to send in your stories and pictures about disrespectful treatmemt by ticket inspectors.
Youthlaw will be monitoring the implementation of the Respect Agenda and will keep you posted.You can read comment by the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria about the Victorian policy by folowing the link below
The UK has also previously introduced a Respect Agenda and you can read comment on it at UK Respect Agenda
Youthlaw gets a lot of calls from young people and family about school bullying - about being bullied and being accused of bullying.
The Federal government is currently looking at expanding anti-harrasment laws to cover young people who are subjected to bullying online.
You can call, email or drop-in to Youthlaw for advice about bullying.
You might also want to watch the recent Four Corners program The Bullies playground. Young people talk about what happened them and what works to deal with it.
The direct link is The Bullies Playground
From January 2009 it is now illegal for body piercing operators to do intimate body piercings (genitals, nipples etc) and scarification, tongue splitting beading under the skin and branding on under 18 year olds.
Other non-intimate piercings (eg. ears, nose etc) on a person under the age of 16 require written consent of a parent or guardian.
Download legal factsheet.
Youthlaw and other youth organisations are continuing to campaign for free public transport for homeless young people.
See our latest update on the campaign.
What do I do when...? is a resource for anyone who works with young people aged 12-25. It details areas of the law that youth workers may come across in their work with young people and provides answers to common legal questions.
Download What do I do when...? [435kb PDF]
