Former children’s commissioner Anne Hollonds has delivered a sharp criticism of the continued use of spit hoods on 10-year-olds in the Northern Territory, arguing that governments are still relying on harsh and punitive policies to lock children up.
The comments formed part of the day’s live Australia news coverage, which began with renewed scrutiny of child detention practices in the NT. Hollonds’ intervention adds to the long-running debate over the treatment of children in custody and the safeguards that should apply when young people are held by the state.
Spit hoods have remained a deeply controversial restraint measure, particularly when used on children. The fact that they are still being used on 10-year-olds has prompted fresh concern about whether current policies are consistent with basic standards of child welfare and protection.
Hollonds’ criticism was framed in broader terms, pointing to the way governments have approached youth detention and discipline. Her remarks suggest that the issue is not only about one restraint device, but about the wider philosophy behind locking up children and the use of punishment in place of care and support.
Global economic warning over Iran war
Elsewhere in the live updates, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned that the Iran war will leave a lasting mark on the global economy, even if a durable peace deal can eventually be reached in the Middle East.
The IMF chief said the outlook now includes a growth downgrade even in the most hopeful scenario. The warning was that there would be no neat or clean return to the status quo, underscoring the scale of disruption already caused by the conflict.
The comments point to the broader economic consequences of the war, which extend beyond the immediate battlefield. A prolonged conflict in the region can affect trade, confidence and global growth, and the IMF’s assessment suggests those impacts could persist for some time.
Pressure builds over Australian arms contracts
In a separate intervention, pressure was placed on Foreign Minister Penny Wong over Australia’s arms contracts with Israel. The argument made was that cancelling more than a billion dollars in contracts would be a response not only to the moral concerns surrounding Israeli military attacks, but also a way to apply material pressure on Israel to pull back from the war in Lebanon.
That war was described as disastrous, illegal and immoral, with the claim that it is threatening peace across the globe. The call was also made for Australia not to buy weapons that have been tested by Israeli defence manufacturers in conflicts such as Gaza and Lebanon, and not to contribute weapons parts.
Advocates for this position argued that such a move would send a clear message to Israel that there is a direct and real cost to its actions. The suggestion was that previous statements of concern from Wong have had no effect, and that stronger action is now required.
The live blog continues to track a mix of domestic political, economic and foreign policy issues, with the NT child detention issue standing out as one of the most serious human rights questions raised in the morning’s coverage.
