Anne Hollonds   

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Federal-state blame shifting undermines youth justice reform, former child commissioner says
Governments are using "harsh, punitive policies" to lock up children while ignor...
Dechlan Brennan 11 Apr 2026
Indigenous children overrepresented as youth justice costs climb and outcomes worsen
Australia's spending on youth detention has increased by $400 million in five ye...
Dechlan Brennan 30 Jan 2026
Legal body warns NT youth justice amendments will increase Aboriginal incarceration without reducing crime
One of Australia's largest Indigenous legal organisations has warned recent chan...
Dechlan Brennan 5 Aug 2025
National Commissioners urge NT government to reconsider draconian youth justice plans
Australia's National Children's Commissioner and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Is...
Giovanni Torre 30 Jul 2025
ACT becomes first jurisdiction to raise criminal age to 14, breaking with punitive national trend
The ACT will make history on Tuesday by becoming the first Australian jurisdicti...
Dechlan Brennan 30 Jun 2025
"Our people are dying": Human Rights Commissioners call for urgent reform following Indigenous deaths in custody

All seven Commissioners of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) have joined forces to call for sweeping reforms in response to the continuing crisis of Indigenous deaths in custody.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Jun 13, 2025
Victorian bail laws undermine community safety at the cost of vulnerable children, experts say

Child commissioners have condemned the new bail laws in Victoria, deriding them as costly changes that will only make the "community less safe".

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Mar 21, 2025
Senate report largely ignores expert calls for youth justice reform

An interim parliamentary report into children in prison has failed to recommend sweeping changes, despite the "significant and disturbing evidence" received from a large number of experts.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Feb 28, 2025
Exclusive: National Child Commissioner prevented from entering youth prisons

Australia's child commissioner was prevented from entering youth prisons in Victoria and Western Australia during a national tour in 2023. As part of her "Help way earlier!

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Feb 5, 2025
Commissioners paint bleak picture of justice system's treatment of children

The appearance of every child commissioner in Canberra on Monday was vital to highlighting the inhumane treatment of children in Australia, an inquiry has heard.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Feb 4, 2025
NT law changes will "undermine basic protections" for Aboriginal children

Proposed law changes in the Northern Territory will undermine basic protections for Indigenous children to be able to grow up with their culture and community, the First Nations children's commissione...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Jan 23, 2025
Commonwealth needs to stand up for the human rights of Australian children, Child Commissioner says

Australia's Children's Commissioner has called on the federal government to affirm its commitment to the human rights of Australia's children as the Queensland government this week looks set to pass t...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Dec 11, 2024
Human Rights Commissioners urge NT government to reverse decision to lower age of criminal responsibility

Two Australian Human Rights Commissioners have called on the Northern Territory government to reverse their plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility, arguing it will not help community safety...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 12, 2024
“Children do not belong in prisons": Organisations tell youth justice inquiry age of criminal responsibility must be raised

The overwhelming majority of Indigenous, medical, and human rights groups have told the national youth justice inquiry a dramatic overhaul of the system is needed, including raising the age of crimina...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 11, 2024
"No 11-year-old should be locked up" : Canberra gathering backs strong action to fix youth justice systems

More than 120 representatives have met in Canberra to reinforce the urgent need for youth justice reform to be made a national priority. Co-hosted by the National Children's Commissioner, Anne Holland...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 10, 2024
Experts warn 'Declan's Law' won't make NT community safer

The Northern Territory government has announced they will introduce legislation next week to criminalise breaches of bail for children as well as expanding the presumption against bail to include yout...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 7, 2024
"No votes in children": Children's Commissioner criticises punitive attitudes towards youth justice

The National Children's Commissioner says some politicians have told her there are "no votes in children" when she has tried to raise the issue of youth justice.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 2, 2024
Child Commissioner says media coverage of youth crime is creating more fear

The National Child Commissioner says media coverage on youth crime is "creating more and more fear". Appearing on ABC RN, Anne Hollonds, who will address the National Press Club on Wednesday, said whe...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 2, 2024
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National Indigenous Times

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