Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

People often ask me about alternatives to incarceration. Today I want to talk about one program that is successfully diverting kids from jail and getting them on a good path. Balit Ngulu is a specialised youth program within the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service that provides legal assistance and holistic support for kids in contact with the criminal legal system. 'Balit ngulu' means 'strong voice' in the Woiwurrung language. That's because the program makes sure that young people feel seen, heard and connected. It empowers children to self-determine pathways to address challenges and establish a positive future for themselves. They work with caseworkers to identify employment and education opportunities, determine referrals to support services and re-engage with families, school and community. And they have ongoing support that helps resolve underlying issues.

It's not rocket science and it's not expensive. Governments waste over $1 million for every child that is locked up, and 80 per cent of children released from prison return within 12 months. There is strong evidence that children who are given the right support have far lower reoffending rates—under 10 per cent, and as low as two per cent for some models. These alternatives are far, far cheaper, but Labor isn't following the evidence. Their decision to withhold much-needed funding from the legal assistance sector will mean that programs like Balit Ngulu won't be able to reach all the kids in need. Under Labor, more kids will be locked up and more communities damaged. This Labor government must stop ignoring the evidence, start listening to communities and fund the solutions that work.