Queensland locks up more kids than all other states combined—and new laws will make it worse, advocates warn

Premier David Crisafulli announced a new mandatory sentencing offence for repeat youth offenders who breach bail on 5 July. Youth Advocacy Centre CEO Katherine Hayes countered that Queensland already incarcerates more children than Victoria and NSW combined, and flagged the harshest youth bail laws in Australia. Sisters Inside warned the government is "building a youth justice system driven by headlines instead of evidence."