The United Nations has been denied access to two youth detention centres in Queensland and the Northern Territory during a visit by its Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The UN said the state governments refused to engage with its mandate, scrapping planned tours of the Cleveland and Holtze youth detention centres. A Queensland government spokesperson did not explain why the visits were not accommodated.
Planned tours of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville and the Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin were cancelled. Requested government meetings in the Torres Strait, Townsville and Darwin also did not proceed, according to the UN statement.
Australia is a signatory to key UN agreements protecting prisoner rights, including the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Previous UN delegations have also faced difficulties accessing Australian detention facilities; a visit by a UN torture prevention body was cancelled in 2023, a step Australia shares only with Rwanda.
Prisoner advocate Debbie Kilroy, founder of the National Network of Incarcerated Women and Girls, criticised the governments. "This is how gagging happens and how [governments] continue to get away with the harm that is perpetrated against Aboriginal children," Ms Kilroy said. She argued the visit would have given children a chance to speak to an independent party.
The majority of children in custody at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre are First Nations. A report tabled by the Queensland Ombudsman last week found the centre was operating above safe capacity at its last inspection in 2025. The Ombudsman made 15 recommendations including standardising cleaning practices, ensuring daily access to fresh air and sunlight, and re-establishing regular Elder visits for First Nations children.
Ms Kilroy also expressed concern that new Queensland legislation, imposing a mandatory minimum 12 months in prison for serious repeat young and adult offenders who breach bail from 30 November, would worsen the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in custody.
The UN said Dr Barume would share his preliminary findings and recommendations on 13 November in Sydney at the conclusion of his tour.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Australia's international human rights obligations are being challenged by state governments blocking UN oversight of conditions for vulnerable children in detention.
- The block prevents independent assessment of conditions for Indigenous children, who are dramatically overrepresented in the youth justice system.
- The refusal follows a pattern of denied access that previously led to the termination of a UN visit in 2023, raising questions about Australia's compliance with international treaties.
Background
The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K Barume, began a tour of Australia on 2 November. The visit was intended to investigate human rights issues affecting Indigenous peoples. The UN has faced previous difficulties accessing Australian detention facilities. A visit by a UN torture prevention body was cancelled in 2023, a step Australia shares only with Rwanda.
Key Perspectives
United Nations: says the state governments of Queensland and the Northern Territory refused to engage with its mandate, blocking planned tours of detention centres.
Debbie Kilroy (prisoner advocate): criticised the block, describing it as a way for governments to conceal harm against Aboriginal children, and expressed concern that new legislation will worsen Indigenous overrepresentation in the youth justice system.
Queensland government: offered the Special Rapporteur well-wishes without explaining why the specific visits and meetings were not accommodated.
What to Watch
- The UN's preliminary findings to be delivered on 13 November in Sydney.
- The implementation of Queensland's mandatory sentencing legislation from 30 November and its impact on youth detention populations.
- Whether the federal government responds to the state governments' refusal to engage with the UN mandate.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedQueensland and Northern Territory governments blocked UN youth detention visits.Just In: “Queensland, NT governments block UN youth detention visits.”
- SupportedThe UN was denied access to two youth detention centres during its Special Rapporteur’s visit.Just In: “The United Nations has been denied access to two youth detention centres during an Australian visit”
- SupportedThe UN said state governments refused to engage with its mandate, leading to the planned tours being scrapped.Just In: “It said planned tours of the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville and the Holtze Youth Detention Centre in Darwin were also scrapped "due to refusal by state governments of Northern Territory and Queensland to engage with the mandate".”
- SupportedA Queensland government spokesperson did not explain why the visits were not accommodated.Just In: “A Queensland government spokesperson did not explain why the meetings and visits requested by the UN were not accommodated.”
- SupportedMs Kilroy said, “This is how gagging happens and how [governments] continue to get away with the harm that is perpetrated against Aboriginal children,”Just In: “"This is how gagging happens and how [governments] continue to get away with the harm that is perpetrated against Aboriginal children," Ms Kilroy said.”
- SupportedMs Kilroy argued the visit would have given children a chance to speak to an independent party.Just In: “"A visit from the United Nations and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous People gives children a chance to speak directly to someone independent of the prison”
- SupportedA UN torture-prevention body’s visit was cancelled in 2023, a step Australia shares only with Rwanda.Just In: “The visit was completely cancelled in 2023, with Australia then joining Rwanda as the only countries where the UN has terminated a visit.”
- SupportedThe majority of children in custody at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre are First Nations.Just In: “The majority of children in custody at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre are First Nations.”
- SupportedThe Queensland Ombudsman’s report found Cleveland was operating above safe capacity at its last inspection in 2025.Just In: “It found the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, which the Special Rapporteur had planned to tour, was above safe operating capacity at its last inspection in 2025.”
- SupportedThe new Queensland legislation will impose a mandatory minimum 12 months in prison for serious repeat young and adult offenders who breach bail from 30 November.Just In: “From November 30, serious repeat young and adult offenders will face a mandatory minimum 12 months in prison if they breach bail in Queensland.”
- SupportedMs Kilroy expressed concern that the legislation would worsen the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in custody.Just In: “Ms Kilroy said she held concerns that an over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in custody would be made worse by new Queensland legislation.”
- SupportedDr Barume would share preliminary findings and recommendations in Sydney on 13 November at the conclusion of his tour.Just In: “The UN said Dr Barume would share his preliminary findings and recommendations at the conclusion of his Australian tour on November 13 in Sydney.”