The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia says it was "devastated" to learn of the passing of the young boy overnight after he was found unresponsive in his cell at Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
Commissioner Brad Royce told media on Friday that the 17-year-old identified as Indigenous. National Indigenous Times understands that the boy's stepfather is Indigenous.
ALS WA chief executive Wayne Nannup said he was "bereft and angry that another young boy has lost his life".
"I am thinking today of his family and community who must now grieve and my heart breaks for them," he said.
"The loss of another young life in youth detention is intolerable. On behalf of all the staff at ALSWA we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and community members affected by this tragedy.
"This young boy would have been deeply loved by those close to him and should have had his whole life ahead of him. When he was at his most vulnerable, he should've been met with a system that wrapped itself around him, kept him safe and offered him support."
The legal agency said it was "appalled" by comments made by Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia on Friday morning.
"The knee jerk reaction by this government in asserting that 'no systemic change is needed' is inexcusable. For Premier Cook to cite the safety of staff in the aftermath of a horrible failure to keep a child in custody safe beggars belief," ALS WA said in a statement.
"Prior to October last year a child had never died in custody in Western Australia. Now two young people have tragically lost their lives within 11 months of each other. The government can point to the positive changes in Banksia Hill and Unit 18 as much as it likes, but it has failed at the first hurdle, keeping a child safe from harm. This is catastrophic failure by a cold hearted government relentlessly beating a 'tough on crime' drum.
"Nothing short of a full-scale overhaul of youth justice is needed. Aboriginal families, communities and organisations cannot keep carrying the burden of advocating for meaningful change. This government must pick up the mantle. Without political will, nothing will change and further lives are likely to be lost."
