Queensland Ombudsman Retreats From Call to Close Youth Prison Despite Concerns Over Conditions

Queensland's ombudsman has stepped back from earlier calls to close a youth remand centre he had previously described as so unsuitable for children that some detainees were self-harming in attempts to be transferred elsewhere, according to a report from The Guardian.

Ombudsman Anthony Reilly published an inspection report last week raising fresh concerns about conditions at the Wacol youth remand centre, including what the report described as a lack of space, privacy and natural light for young people held there for extended periods.

Despite those findings, the report did not renew previous demands that the facility be shut down, a shift that has drawn sharp criticism from an inmate advocacy group, which characterized the ombudsman's position as a "gutless retreat."

The development comes amid broader concerns in Queensland about the state's youth justice system. The Crisafulli government's hardline bail laws have raised fears that tightening restrictions could push more young people into police watch houses, facilities widely regarded as unsuitable for holding children, potentially creating a new overcrowding crisis.

Advocates argue that conditions at Wacol are serious enough that children have resorted to self-harming behavior in hopes of being moved to different facilities, pointing to this as evidence that the centre remains inappropriate for holding young detainees regardless of the ombudsman's revised stance.

The ombudsman's office has not publicly detailed what, if any, remedial steps will follow the inspection findings. The matter continues to draw attention amid ongoing debate over youth justice and detention policy in Queensland.