Source : Perth Now news
Young people convicted of crimes would be forced to do farm work, laundry, cooking and attend daily education programs under a state opposition plan.
The policy pitch will be outlined on Sunday when Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson launches her election campaign in Melbourne on the same day as Labor holds a similar event.
The rival launches, held just under two weeks out from the state poll, cement crime as one of the central issues in the campaign.
Premier Ben Carroll a week earlier announced a forced rehabilitation program for young offenders, which quickly attracted criticism from youth justice advocates.
Under the coalition pledge, young offenders would be sent to a new, in-house program at the former Dhurringile Prison, in central Victoria, in a scheme inspired by Queensland’s Circuit Breaker program.
“Our tough new bootcamps will instil the discipline and respect lacking in so many young offenders and give them the skills they need to get on the right path,” Ms Wilson said.
Courts will be given the power to send offenders aged 14 to 17 to the bootcamp as an alternative to a community corrections order or other custodial sentence.
Offenders would be ordered to take part in the daily program, where daily tasks include physical activity, farm work, cleaning, maintenance and cooking.
“Our bootcamps will give young offenders structure, discipline and practical skills while making it clear that their actions have consequences,” coalition youth justice spokeswoman Renee Heath said.
“We will give young Victorians the tools to turn their lives around, but we will never put the safety of the community second.”
Labor’s previous “tough love” announcement involved $204 million being set aside to roll out mandatory therapeutic orders for young offenders.
Young offenders sentenced under the order would be removed from the community for up to a year and held in a secure residential youth justice facility, where they would undergo rehabilitation programs.
Advocates, however, criticised the plan, arguing it prioritised detaining children and young people over investing in the support services needed to keep them connected to their communities, families and culture.
Recent polls point to a likely victory for the opposition.
The Australian Financial Review/RedBridge/Accent Research’s latest poll pegged the coalition’s primary vote at 31 per cent, ahead of a declining Labor on 23 per cent.
One Nation was steady at 22 per cent and the Greens at 15 per cent in the survey.
