Queensland ombudsman steps back from push to close troubled youth remand centre

Queensland's ombudsman has stepped back from earlier calls to close a youth remand centre that inspectors found so unsuitable for children that some detainees have self-harmed in an attempt to be transferred elsewhere, prompting sharp criticism from an inmate advocacy group.

In an inspection report published last week, ombudsman Anthony Reilly raised serious concerns about conditions at the Wacol youth remand centre, including what he described as a lack of space, privacy and natural light for children held there for extended periods.

Despite those findings, the ombudsman's office concluded that Wacol remains more suitable for housing children than police watch-houses, where young people have also been held amid pressure on the youth justice system. An advocacy group representing young people in detention criticised the ombudsman's position, describing it as a "gutless retreat" from earlier warnings about the facility.

Bail laws add to pressure

The report comes amid concerns that the Crisafulli government's hardline bail laws could worsen crowding in police watch-houses, which are not designed for long-term stays and have repeatedly drawn criticism from legal and human rights groups. Tougher bail settings have increased the number of young people held on remand, adding further strain to a system already under scrutiny.

Advocates argue that moving children out of watch-houses and into facilities like Wacol does not resolve the underlying problem if conditions there also fall short of acceptable standards for holding minors. The ombudsman's findings are likely to keep pressure on the Queensland government to address both the state of its youth detention facilities and the policy settings driving demand for youth remand places.