youth justice needs reforming

20 Sep, 2026

I came across this article on the ABC yesterday. It makes some very good points. I was also interested to note that a Liberal¹ party member was involved.

Of course, Australia's federal system means there's a bit of variation across the country, and the inquiry called for national minimum standards. It also seems to have put part of the blame for the situation on the media:

It is also called on the government to run a national education campaign to counter what it called "incomplete and inaccurate" media reporting and "the false narrative that the country is in the grip of a youth crime wave."

The populist, "tough-on-crime" politicians love stoking people's fears in order to win themselves votes, and the media loves a big, scary headline. Rational argument that sticks to the facts just isn't as click-baity as "Youth crime!"

The report also digs into the real causes and real solutions to the youth crime that does exist, particularly for indigenous youth:

"[First Nations kids'] criminalisation is linked with a lack of support for their basic needs: before being locked up, many needed a safe place to call home, enough food, inclusive education, health supports and access to family and community," the report said.

"Instead of reinforcing systems that police, surveil, and incarcerate children, the inquiry must centre the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in shaping youth justice policies."

and:

It said "poverty, housing insecurity, exclusion from education, racial discrimination, and systemic neglect" were the root causes of youth crime.

There's more in there, of course. But why would an article on youth justice in Australia grab my attention? Because I see similar patterns happening here in Aotearoa. Media and politicians stoking people's fears on the one hand, while young people are being abandoned to lives of crime because their needs are not being met.

We have politicians who find it easier to win votes by bashing vulnerable people, and media that finds it easier to make money through big, scary, clickbaity headlines. Together they are actively contributing to the problems they claim they are trying to solve.

If politicians want me to believe that they're "tough on crime", then I need to see them getting tough on the causes of crime. I need to see serious investment in healthcare, education, and housing. I need to see politicians actively working to give young people a sense of belonging and hope for the future. When young people have stable, safe, secure, healthy homes, schools that accept and support them, and access to the healthcare they need, and when these young people feel like a welcomed and supported part of society, when they have hope for the future, then we will see crime rates go down.