A Curtin University student has reportedly been suspended and banned from campus for one year for confronting Mark McGowan over the treatment of Aboriginal children in WA detention centres Banksia Hill and Unit 18 while he was the state's premier.

Student Emily Lassam questioned the former Premier over his handling of youth justice.

Unit 18 was opened under the McGowan government and has come under increasing scrutiny from human rights, justice and Indigenous groups. WA's youth justice system has been criticised by experts including current and former Inspectors of Custodial Services, and current and former presidents of the Children's Court, as well as leading Indigenous justice advocates.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the WA government to close the Banksia Hill youth detention centre and the Unit 18 compound at Casuarina maximum security adult prison. Last year, a 16 year-old Yamatji boy, Cleveland Dodd died in custody, having been detained in Unit 18.

Indigenous children are drastically over-represented in WA's justice system, and over-incarcerated at a rate significantly higher than the national average.

National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project director and Noongar activist Megan Krakouer said "Emily Lassam's brave confrontation of former Premier Mark McGowan at Curtin University highlights the devastating impact of Unit 18 at Casuarina Prison and the ongoing crisis at Banksia Hill Detention Centre".

"The tragic deaths of Cleveland Dodd, a 16-year-old Aboriginal boy, and another boy within 10 months… underscore the deep systemic failures. These institutions are cruel places where hundreds of children have self-harmed or attempted suicide. I stand with Emily in condemning these facilities and call for urgent reforms to protect our children and end the cycle of trauma and neglect."

Greens WA MLC Dr Brad Pettitt said universities "should be a place for advocacy, activism and the challenging of ideas and social norms".

"Unfortunately, across Australia we have seen an increase in universities cracking down on activism and peaceful protest by students, particularly on human rights issues," he said.

"There are significant concerns with the investigation by Curtin University into the suspension of Ms Emily Lassam and I would urge them to reconsider this drastic action."

Dr Pettitt noted the WA government "has a terrible record when it comes to the treatment of kids in youth detention that has seen two deaths – the first in our state's history – occur in the last twelve months as well as shocking revelations of solitary confinement and self-harm occurring regularly at both Banksia Hill and Unit 18".

Dr Pettitt's questions in parliament in August, 2022, revealed the scale of the self-harm crisis in youth detention.

"All of the evidence, including that coming out of the research centres of universities like Curtin, is that locking kids up in a maximum-security adult prison is not safe," he said.

"It is high time Unit 18 closed and the wellbeing of kids who interact with our youth justice system made a priority; a position the Greens have been advocating for since the unit was first opened in July 2022."

A Curtin University spokesperson told National Indigenous Times the university "cannot comment on individual disciplinary matters during the misconduct process or when it has been completed".

"Curtin strongly upholds academic freedom however this right comes with responsibilities. Any alleged behaviour or speech that contravenes our student charter or codes of conduct is addressed through established processes," she said.

"All members of our community are expected to engage respectfully and in line with our codes and values, ensuring a safe, inclusive and accountable environment for all."

Advocates for Ms Lassam said her suspension "comes at a time when universities across the country are cracking down on freedom of speech, particularly targeting students for their involvement in activism against Israel's genocide in Gaza", noting that "evidence" presented against the student also included video of her involvement in a protest against the Israeli government's actions in Gaza.

Edith Cowan University lecturer Alexis Vassiley said there has been "a concerted attack on freedom of speech on university campuses around Australia this year".

"It is concerning that Curtin University seems to be following this trend. The university must immediately revoke the suspension of Emily for expressing legitimate political concerns toward a former Premier," Dr Vassiley said.