Queensland Labor’s lurch to the right on youth justice shows a government that’s lost principles and perspective

Premier Steven Miles’ erasure of the human rights principle of ‘detention as a last resort’ for children defies logic

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Late on Tuesday night, the Queensland government called youth organisations and other social service providers to parliament house for a confidential briefing about changes to the Youth Justice Act.

Four senior ministers – including the premier, Steven Miles - walked through the doors. Attendees describe what happened next as “like an ambush”.

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