Several Queensland Labor MPs have claimed they have been “clearly misled” and “fed bullshit” by their own government about the urgent need to scrap human rights provisions for children in police watch houses, after Guardian Australia obtained a legal letter that appears to cast doubt on some of the state’s key justifications.
The government moved a series of last-minute amendments last week – without warning or consultation – including to override the Human Rights Act and legalise the practice of detaining children on remand in police custody.
The amendments were moved after a court challenge by the Cairns-based organisation Youth Empowered Towards Independence (Yeti), which brought an initial case earlier this month resulting in orders for the transfer of three young people from police watch houses who had been held unlawfully.
Labor MPs who held reservations about the state’s tactics last week say they were told they needed to pass amendments with such urgency because Yeti had already prepared their case and could revive their legal arguments at any moment.
Genevieve Sinclair, the chief executive of Yeti, said the organisation had sent the letter partly to alert the state government to the fact it was willing to support transition arrangements that did not result in a sudden influx of young people in overcrowded detention centres.
“The government sought, and acted on, the advice of the solicitor general to ensure 30 years of established practice and process could continue in the best interests and safety of the community, young people in custody, staff and visitors to detention centres,” Farmer said.
The original article contains 941 words, the summary contains 259 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Several Queensland Labor MPs have claimed they have been “clearly misled” and “fed bullshit” by their own government about the urgent need to scrap human rights provisions for children in police watch houses, after Guardian Australia obtained a legal letter that appears to cast doubt on some of the state’s key justifications.
The government moved a series of last-minute amendments last week – without warning or consultation – including to override the Human Rights Act and legalise the practice of detaining children on remand in police custody.
The amendments were moved after a court challenge by the Cairns-based organisation Youth Empowered Towards Independence (Yeti), which brought an initial case earlier this month resulting in orders for the transfer of three young people from police watch houses who had been held unlawfully.
Labor MPs who held reservations about the state’s tactics last week say they were told they needed to pass amendments with such urgency because Yeti had already prepared their case and could revive their legal arguments at any moment.
Genevieve Sinclair, the chief executive of Yeti, said the organisation had sent the letter partly to alert the state government to the fact it was willing to support transition arrangements that did not result in a sudden influx of young people in overcrowded detention centres.
“The government sought, and acted on, the advice of the solicitor general to ensure 30 years of established practice and process could continue in the best interests and safety of the community, young people in custody, staff and visitors to detention centres,” Farmer said.
The original article contains 941 words, the summary contains 259 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!