Former children’s commissioner Anne Hollonds has delivered a sharp criticism of government policies that continue to place children in detention and expose them to harsh restraint practices, including the use of spit hoods on 10-year-olds in the Northern Territory.
Hollonds said governments were still relying on “harsh, punitive policies” to lock children up, in comments that have renewed pressure on authorities over the treatment of children in custody. The issue has again placed the NT’s youth justice system under scrutiny, with the continued use of spit hoods on young children described as deeply troubling.
The debate comes amid broader political discussion about the treatment of vulnerable groups and the responsibilities of governments when responding to serious social and justice issues. Hollonds’ intervention adds to long-running criticism of policies that place punishment ahead of child welfare and rehabilitation.
At the same time, international developments continue to weigh on the news cycle. The head of the International Monetary Fund has warned that the Iran war will permanently scar the global economy, even if a durable peace deal in the Middle East can eventually be reached.
In a stark assessment, the IMF chief said that even the most optimistic outlook now includes a downgrade to growth forecasts. “Even in a best case, there will be no neat and clean return to the status quo,” the warning said, underlining the scale of disruption caused by the conflict.
The economic consequences of the war were described as lasting, with the conflict expected to reshape global conditions well beyond any eventual ceasefire or settlement. The warning reflects growing concern among policymakers and financial institutions about the wider fallout from instability in the Middle East.
Elsewhere in the political debate, criticism has also continued over Australia’s approach to the conflict. One argument raised in the discussion called for more decisive action, including cancelling more than a billion dollars in Israeli arms contracts. That position was presented as both a response to what was described as the moral situation created by Israeli military attacks and a way of applying real material pressure on Israel.
The argument went further, saying Australia should not be buying weapons tested by Israeli defence manufacturers in conflicts such as Gaza and Lebanon, and should not be contributing weapons parts. It was also suggested that such a move would signal a direct cost to Israel.
Those comments sit alongside broader calls for stronger political action, with some arguing that expressions of concern alone have had no practical effect. The discussion reflects the intensity of debate surrounding the conflict and Australia’s role in it.
With domestic child protection concerns and international conflict both shaping the agenda, the latest developments highlight the range of issues now confronting governments. In the NT, the focus remains on the continued use of spit hoods on children as young as 10. Globally, the economic shock from the Iran war is being described as enduring, even under a best-case peace scenario.
More to come.
