Australia’s former children’s commissioner, Anne Hollonds, has delivered a strong criticism of the continued use of spit hoods on children as young as 10 in the Northern Territory, describing it as part of a wider pattern of “harsh, punitive policies” used to lock children up.
The remarks appeared in a live political news update that also tracked other major developments, including reactions to Anthony Albanese’s visit to Singapore, the fuel crisis and petrol prices, and responses to the wars involving the US, Israel, Iran and Lebanon.
Hollonds’ intervention adds to long-running concern about youth detention practices in the NT. The issue of spit hoods has drawn sustained criticism from advocates and child welfare campaigners, who say such measures are damaging and inappropriate for children.
The broader live coverage also noted comments from the head of the International Monetary Fund, who warned that the Iran war will permanently scar the global economy, even if a durable peace deal in the Middle East is eventually reached.
The IMF chief said that even the most hopeful scenario now involved a downgrade in growth. “Even in a best case, there will be no neat and clean return to the status quo,” the warning said.
Elsewhere in the live update, there was renewed pressure on the federal government over its response to the conflict in the Middle East. One passage argued that previous statements from Penny Wong, whether describing the situation as “concerned” or “gravely concerned”, have had no effect.
The same commentary urged the government to go further by cancelling more than a billion dollars in Israeli arms contracts. It argued that such a move would not only respond to the “moral situation” created by Israeli military attacks, but would also place material pressure on Israel to pull back from what it described as a disastrous, illegal, immoral war in Lebanon.
The commentary also said Australia should not be buying weapons tested by Israeli defence manufacturers in conflicts such as Gaza and Lebanon, and should not be contributing any weapons parts. It added that taking such action would make clear to Israel that the conflict carries a direct and real cost.
The live report presented these issues as part of a fast-moving news day marked by domestic controversy and international instability, with questions continuing over child detention in the Northern Territory and Australia’s position on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
As the day’s updates continued, the focus remained on the political consequences of both issues: the treatment of vulnerable children at home, and the economic and diplomatic fallout from war abroad.
