Nationals civil rights proposal criticised

Indigenous voices are questioning Nationals leader David Littleproud after he suggested civil rights could be removed from young people who commit offences.

Mr Littleproud was in the northern NSW seat if Cowper this week arguing for tougher juvenile detention.

“When a community doesn’t feel safe, you have to act, and you have to make sure there’s a deterrent and a consequence,” he said.

“…we’re going back to outback camps where we are rebuilding these young people with a life skill. Not putting them behind barbed wire but sending them to remote places, giving them a skill and purpose in life.”

Mr Littleproud has long advocated for work camps for young offenders.

His comments sparked criticism from many quarters, including Australia Institute reporter Amy Remeikis, who said his language was “the message that conservative talk back loves, but it is not borne out by the evidence’”.

“And what he’s not saying, but we all know he means, is Indigenous children.”

About 30 per cent of Indigenous households are in income poverty, which indicates that over 120,000 Indigenous people are living below the poverty line.

And approximately 70 per cent of young Indigenous adults (aged 20-24 years), are not fully engaged with work or education.