State and territory governments are responsible for our criminal legal systems, including youth justice and detention. But when those systems are failing, the Commonwealth can and should step in to ensure children’s rights are protected.

Many state and territory governments take a ‘tough-on-crime’ approach to youth justice, despite the evidence showing that this harms children and doesn’t make communities safer.

Jonathan Hall Spence, Principal Solicitor at the Justice and Equity Centre joined 2SER Breakfast to discuss why the Commonwealth Government should make sure children’s rights are protected.