For the second time in little more than a year, Queensland Labor has retreated under an LNP attack over laws that deal with the detention of young offenders.

This time, however, the government has failed to shift far enough to end the opposition’s pursuit: removing the sentencing principle that detention should be a last resort.

In February, Premier Steven Miles after declared the “dangerous” proposal wouldn’t work and likely boost reoffending instead.Credit: Matt Dennien

The longstanding UN-backed sentencing principle is based on extensive global evidence pointing to the need for children to be treated differently to adults in the justice system for reasons including maturity and the ability to control behaviour and make good decisions.

It is one of dozens of factors to be considered by judges in deciding whether to add another mark to Queensland’s proud tally of the most kids detained nationwide, in a system so strained that some are kept for weeks in police watchhouses meant for adults with little to no services.

A bipartisan parliamentary committee, recently disbanded because it got bogged down in party politics, also found youth detention centres........

© Brisbane Times