AAP – All remaining young offenders in Victoria’s harshest correctional facility need to be transferred immediately after Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths were removed, advocates say.
The Victorian government on Tuesday reversed its decision to relocate the youths to the maximum security prison in the face of an Aboriginal Legal Service Supreme Court challenge.
The group was moved to Barwon after the Melbourne Youth Justice Centre was trashed during riots.
While lawyers welcomed the removal of indigenous teens from the adult prison, they said Premier Daniel Andrews needed to protect the rights of all Victorian youths and remove the 15 detainees still in Barwon.
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Wayne Muir said the remaining group were in danger, unlikely to get access to programs because of lockdowns and needed to be removed.
Human Rights Law Centre advocacy director Ruth Barson has flagged the potential for future legal action on behalf of the remaining detainees if the premier does not show “moral leadership”.
Amnesty International has also called for the teens to be taken out of Barwon.
Families and Children Affairs Minister Jenny Mikakos says the steps taken are consistent with relevant legislation and Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
