Amnesty International Australia condemns refusal to allow UN Special Rapporteur into youth detention centres

2 November 2026

Amnesty International Australia is deeply disappointed by the Northern Territory and Queensland governments' refusal to allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to visit youth detention centres during his official visit to Australia, which begins today.

UN Special Rapporteur Dr Albert K. Barume has expressed regret that planned visits to youth detention centres in Holtze and Cleveland will not proceed, following the governments' refusal to engage with his mandate.

Uncle Rodney Dillon, Palawa Elder and Indigenous Rights Advisor at Amnesty International Australia, said:

"We should be opening our doors to international scrutiny, not shutting them. What are these governments trying to hide?

"We've already documented children being locked in prolonged isolation and subjected to cruel and degrading treatment that falls well below international human rights standards. We know what is happening to our kids, and we know these systems are failing them.

"It is deeply disappointing that when the United Nations comes to see these conditions firsthand, governments refuse to let them in. If they have nothing to hide, why are they afraid of independent scrutiny?"

"Our children deserve protection, dignity and justice. The Northern Territory and Queensland governments must reverse their decisions and allow the Special Rapporteur full access to these facilities. Australia cannot claim to uphold human rights while refusing to be held accountable for them, and both the Queensland and Northern Territory governments must face repercussions."

This is part of a concerning pattern of Australian governments obstructing international human rights scrutiny. In 2022, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture suspended and later terminated its visit to Australia after being denied access to detention facilities in New South Wales and Queensland.

In December 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was denied access to detention facilities in the Northern Territory.

This latest refusal marks the second time in less than a year that the Northern Territory Government has blocked UN human rights experts from inspecting detention facilities.

Amnesty International Australia calls on all Australian governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur's visit and ensure independent scrutiny of the treatment of First Nations children in detention.