Queensland, NT governments block UN youth detention visits

The United Nations has been denied access to two youth detention centres during an Australian visit, saying the Queensland and Northern Territory governments will not comply with their mandate.

Prisoner advocate and founder of the National Network of Incarcerated Women and Girls, Debbie Kilroy, slammed the governments for blocking the tours in Townsville and Darwin youth jails.

"This is how gagging happens and how [governments] continue to get away with the harm that is perpetrated against Aboriginal children," Ms Kilroy said.

"A visit from the United Nations and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous People gives children a chance to speak directly to someone independent of the prison and gives that Special Rapporteur a chance to see the conditions for himself."

'Refusal to engage'

The United Nations (UN) special rapporteur was tasked to investigate and deliver findings on human rights issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Australia.

Albert K Barume planned to visit Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and the ACT during his delegation, which began on Monday.

However, the UN released a statement saying requested government meetings in the Torres Strait, Townsville and Darwin would not proceed.

It said planned tours of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville and the Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin were also scrapped "due to refusal by state governments of Northern Territory and Queensland to engage with the mandate".

Australia is a signatory to key UN agreements that protect prisoner rights, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

A Queensland government spokesperson did not explain why the meetings and visits requested by the UN were not accommodated.

"The Crisafulli Government wishes the UN Special Rapporteur all the best during his visit to Queensland," the spokesperson said.

A UN delegation was denied visits to Northern Territory prisons in December last year.

Another UN body, focused on torture prevention, was denied access to Queensland and New South Wales facilities, including jails, in 2022.

The visit was completely cancelled in 2023, with Australia then joining Rwanda as the only countries where the UN has terminated a visit.

'System collapsing'

Ms Kilroy said she held concerns that an over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in custody would be made worse by new Queensland legislation.

From November 30, serious repeat young and adult offenders will face a mandatory minimum 12 months in prison if they breach bail in Queensland.

"This is a huge concern because [prisoner] numbers are going to increase drastically … the system is collapsing around us," she said.

The Queensland Ombudsman tabled a combined inspection report of the youth detention centres within the state last week.

It found the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, which the Special Rapporteur had planned to tour, was above safe operating capacity at its last inspection in 2025.

During the inspection, the Ombudsman noted that 90 per cent of detained children identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

The Ombudsman made 15 recommendations for the state government to standardise cleaning practices and ensure children were given exposure to fresh air and sunlight each day.

It also recommended that Queensland detention centres re-establish regular Elder visits for First Nations children, particularly at Cleveland, and improve cultural awareness training among staff.

The UN said Dr Barume would share his preliminary findings and recommendations at the conclusion of his Australian tour on November 13 in Sydney.