Barwon MP focusing on youth justice reform

Member for Barwon Roy Butler attended the inaugural meeting of a group set up to address youth justice and reforms to address youth crime issues.

"It has become a serious problem these days that far too many young people are ending up involved in crime and too many thereafter entering the criminal justice system," Mr Butler said. 

"During the sitting weeks I went to the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Friends of Youth Justice Reform, a group that is dedicated to reducing the numbers of young people who end up involved in anti-social behaviour and custody, which often leads to a life of reoffending. 

"One of the special guests at the meeting was Robert Tickner, former Federal Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, now the chair of the Justice Reform Initiative, who spoke passionately about the need for reform.

"Our youth justice system isn’t working, we need to work on solutions, and it needs to be a bipartisan, non-political solution."

To learn more about the Youth Justice Initiative see www.justicereforminitiative.org.au