‘A violation of human rights’: Perth marches for jailed children move to adult prison

Around 100 people marched in Perth over WA Corrections’ decision to move 20 children from Banksia Hill juvenile detention center to Casuarina maximum security adult prison.

Pamela Blurton was present at the protest and said she was “disturbed” after learning that her 15-year-old grandson was being moved from a juvenile prison to an adult prison.

“They created a monster and now it’s in the basket too hard.. This Banksia (juvenile prison) was for boys and to rehabilitate, with programs and work…instead they inculcate what it’s going to be in a couple of years,” she said.

“No one is saying they are little angels, obviously they got there because they did horrible things but you don’t put gasoline on the fire,” she said.

Megan Krakouer of the National Suicide Prevention and Recovery Project was at the protest and said there were people present whose grandchildren are subject to transference and self-harm.

“Some of the self-harm happening in Banksia Hill at the moment is beyond a joke, it is a violation of human rights and we are taking to the streets to bring it to attention,” a- she declared.

Juvenile detention centers in Australia have a high percentage of Indigenous inmates, with a 2020 report revealing that of Banksia Hill’s 77 children at the time, 74% were Indigenous.

WA Corrections maintains that juvenile inmates will be separated from adult prisoners at Casuarina.

Ms Krakouer said despite being in a separate area, they will still be close to the adult prisoners.

“What’s on offer is unit 18 (but) 16, 17 and 19 are nearby,” she said.

“Although they are in an isolated area, they will still be able to hear things and it is not an environment to send children,” she added.

Protesters had walked out on a rainy day in Perth, some wearing chains in which they said underage detainees would be transferred.

Ms. Krakouer described the decision as a violation of human rights.

“It cannot go forward when children are taken to Casuarina, it is an indictment,” she said.

“The justice system in Western Australia has failed”.