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Turnbull asks state and territory leaders to discuss juvenile detention Turnbull asks state and territory leaders to discuss juvenile detention
(25 days later)
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, wants youth detention and child protection to be on the agenda at the next Coag meeting with state and territory leaders.The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, wants youth detention and child protection to be on the agenda at the next Coag meeting with state and territory leaders.
But he does not want to broaden the terms of reference for the royal commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory, he has said.But he does not want to broaden the terms of reference for the royal commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory, he has said.
“We’ve got to focus on the Northern Territory here but clearly concerns have been raised about what is happening in other jurisdictions,” he said on Monday.“We’ve got to focus on the Northern Territory here but clearly concerns have been raised about what is happening in other jurisdictions,” he said on Monday.
“This issue of protecting our children, of caring for our children – we have a vested interest in all of our children, all other people’s children as much as our own. We need to make sure that is always in the forefront.”“This issue of protecting our children, of caring for our children – we have a vested interest in all of our children, all other people’s children as much as our own. We need to make sure that is always in the forefront.”
Related: Backing for Indigenous treaty grows as constitutional recognition loses support
Turnbull says he will meet the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, on Thursday to discuss “a number of issues,” including the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.Turnbull says he will meet the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, on Thursday to discuss “a number of issues,” including the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.
He softly warned Shorten that he should not try to introduce too many cultural changes too quickly in Australia after the Labor leader suggested on the weekend that constitutional recognition should be used as a stepping stone to a “post-recognition settlement” or treaty with Indigenous Australians.He softly warned Shorten that he should not try to introduce too many cultural changes too quickly in Australia after the Labor leader suggested on the weekend that constitutional recognition should be used as a stepping stone to a “post-recognition settlement” or treaty with Indigenous Australians.
Shorten was criticised by Coalition MPs for those remarks on Monday, with some saying he was threatening to derail the attempt to introduce a referendum on constitutional recognition by complicating the matter.Shorten was criticised by Coalition MPs for those remarks on Monday, with some saying he was threatening to derail the attempt to introduce a referendum on constitutional recognition by complicating the matter.
Western Australia Liberal senator Dean Smith said he was highly cautious about the merits of constitutional recognition in the first place, but Shorten’s plan would be too much for many Australians.Western Australia Liberal senator Dean Smith said he was highly cautious about the merits of constitutional recognition in the first place, but Shorten’s plan would be too much for many Australians.
“In its essence, I argue that the Australian constitution is a guidebook, if you like, it sets out the way that our parliamentary processes function. It’s not, I don’t believe, the ideal place for symbolic statements,” Smith said.“In its essence, I argue that the Australian constitution is a guidebook, if you like, it sets out the way that our parliamentary processes function. It’s not, I don’t believe, the ideal place for symbolic statements,” Smith said.
Turnbull said if Labor wanted the constitution to be changed to recognise Indigenous Australians, it had be tread cautiously.Turnbull said if Labor wanted the constitution to be changed to recognise Indigenous Australians, it had be tread cautiously.
“You have got to be very careful that you don’t overcomplicate it or create an environment where you chip away at that very high level of consensus you need,” he said.“You have got to be very careful that you don’t overcomplicate it or create an environment where you chip away at that very high level of consensus you need,” he said.
“Changing the constitution is not for the faint-hearted. It is very hard. The last even mildly controversial referendum that was successful in Australia, constitutional referendum, was in 1946.“Changing the constitution is not for the faint-hearted. It is very hard. The last even mildly controversial referendum that was successful in Australia, constitutional referendum, was in 1946.
“So all of the ones that have been passed since then have been ones where there was such a high degree of consensus there was virtually no opposition.”“So all of the ones that have been passed since then have been ones where there was such a high degree of consensus there was virtually no opposition.”
The criticism of Shorten came as the royal commissioner into juvenile justice and child protection, Brian Martin, stood down from the inquiry set up by the Coalition only last week.The criticism of Shorten came as the royal commissioner into juvenile justice and child protection, Brian Martin, stood down from the inquiry set up by the Coalition only last week.
Martin confirmed his intentions at a media conference in Canberra on Monday after reports surfaced that he had become concerned about perceptions of conflict of interest.Martin confirmed his intentions at a media conference in Canberra on Monday after reports surfaced that he had become concerned about perceptions of conflict of interest.
He told reporters it had become apparent to him, “rightly or wrongly”, in the days following the establishment of the royal commission that he lacked the confidence of key sections of the Indigenous community.He told reporters it had become apparent to him, “rightly or wrongly”, in the days following the establishment of the royal commission that he lacked the confidence of key sections of the Indigenous community.
“As a consequence, the effectiveness of the commission is likely to be compromised from the outset,” Martin said.“As a consequence, the effectiveness of the commission is likely to be compromised from the outset,” Martin said.
Turnbull moved quickly on Monday to appoint two royal commissioners to head its inquiry – Margaret White, a former justice of the supreme court of Queensland, and the social justice commissioner, Mick Gooda.Turnbull moved quickly on Monday to appoint two royal commissioners to head its inquiry – Margaret White, a former justice of the supreme court of Queensland, and the social justice commissioner, Mick Gooda.
He used the opportunity to address the intense criticisms of a lack of consultation with Indigenous Australians and concerns that the inquiry would be best headed by someone from outside the territory – two lines of argument that were threatening to undermine the integrity of the process.He used the opportunity to address the intense criticisms of a lack of consultation with Indigenous Australians and concerns that the inquiry would be best headed by someone from outside the territory – two lines of argument that were threatening to undermine the integrity of the process.
Last week after the broadcast of the Four Corners report that triggered the royal commission, Gooda called on the federal government to intervene and sack the NT government.Last week after the broadcast of the Four Corners report that triggered the royal commission, Gooda called on the federal government to intervene and sack the NT government.
Related: NT royal commission into juvenile detention: who are the new co-commissioners?
Asked on Monday whether he still felt that way, Gooda said: “We’ll wait and see. I think – I said on the Tuesday, you know, was a day of emotions and people had all sorts of emotional responses.Asked on Monday whether he still felt that way, Gooda said: “We’ll wait and see. I think – I said on the Tuesday, you know, was a day of emotions and people had all sorts of emotional responses.
“In the clear light of day I probably wouldn’t think that. But at the moment I’ve got a job to do,” he said.“In the clear light of day I probably wouldn’t think that. But at the moment I’ve got a job to do,” he said.
Gooda declined to say whether he thought the inquiry should be extended to other states. There have been reports that similar instances to those exposed in the Don Dale centre in the territory have occurred in Queensland corrections.Gooda declined to say whether he thought the inquiry should be extended to other states. There have been reports that similar instances to those exposed in the Don Dale centre in the territory have occurred in Queensland corrections.