Victorian premier unveils $204m tough love plan for youth offenders

The Victorian premier Ben Carroll announced a $204m "tough love" scheme to place children who commit low and mid‑level offences in secure facilities for schooling, drug and alcohol treatment and life‑skills programmes, the Guardian reported. The plan includes the former Malmsbury youth justice centre.

MPs from across factional lines expressed unease with the proposal, and a legal expert warned it "paints the imprisonment of children as therapeutic". Meena Singh, who served as the state commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people until December and had held the post since 2022, said no government official had ever approached her with a plan like this.

Critics argue the approach blurs the line between punishment and rehabilitation, while supporters say it aims to address underlying issues among young offenders. The debate continues as the government prepares to implement the new facilities.

Why it matters

The initiative marks a significant shift in how Victoria intends to manage youth crime, raising questions about the effectiveness and ethics of treating incarceration as a therapeutic measure.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

15 Nov 2026, 00:30 IST

Key names

Victorian, Labor MPs, Meena Singh, Aboriginal

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianEven Labor MPs are at a loss over the Victorian premier’s ‘tough love’ plan for youth offenders 15 Nov, 00:30

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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