Page 5772 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011

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The blueprint will be informed by the commission’s report, including the quality elements of the youth justice system identified by the commission and elements needed to support the rehabilitative outcomes for children and young people. Building services that reflect these elements around the needs and aspirations of these children and young people and their families will be critical. The government will prioritise early intervention, prevention and diversion and continue to ensure that, consistent with our legislation, detention is considered the last resort for children and young people in contact with the youth justice system.

As I have already stated in the development of the blueprint, the task force will consider the importance of underpinning the blueprint with a clear mechanism for inclusion of Australian and international research about what works for young people in all stages of involvement in the youth justice system. As I have emphasised, the government is committed to promoting evidence-based practice.

In developing the blueprint, the task force will reflect on what children and young people, family, staff and other stakeholders have told us about what they want in a quality youth justice system. They have told us what they want through the commissioner’s report as well as through consultative processes on the diversion framework in the change management process at Bimberi.

Children and young people, families, staff and other key stakeholders will be given a further opportunity to contribute to the development of the blueprint through a consultation process that will be launched before Christmas. The blueprint will reflect what we are told the community want in quality service and the consultation will be deeper than provided by the panel at this stage.

Recommendations 4.4 and 6.2 were not identified by the human rights commissioner as priorities for implementation. They have not been identified by the task force as priorities for implementation. The government believes that the resources required for such a committee ought to be reinvested in early intervention and diversion and other priorities that the human rights commissioner has identified.

Like the Human Rights Commission, the government has also acknowledged the magnitude of the task of implementing approximately 80 of the commissioner’s recommendations through the blueprint or the integrated management system. However, the step the government has put in motion with the youth justice task force will lead to long-lasting change through the system.

I seek leave to move amendments Nos 1 and 2 that have been circulated in my name together.

Leave granted.

MS BURCH: I move:

(1) Omit subparagraphs (1)(b), (c) and (d), substitute:

“(b) the Government response to the report where the Government disagreed with the recommendation noting that the terms of reference for the Youth


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