Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems of the Government of the Northern Territory

Announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on 26 July 2016, the morning after the Four Corners program 'Australia's Shame', and appointed by Commonwealth Letters Patent issued by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on 28 July 2016, naming former NT Chief Justice Brian Martin as Commissioner. Martin resigned on 1 August 2016 and new Letters Patent issued that day appointed the Hon Margaret White AO and Mick Gooda as joint Commissioners. The Northern Territory Government established a parallel board of inquiry, so the two inquired jointly. The terms of reference covered failings in the NT child protection and youth detention systems since the Youth Justice Act 2006 (NT), the effectiveness of oversight and safeguards, cultural and management problems in youth detention, whether the treatment of detainees breached laws or human rights, and what should be done to prevent a recurrence.

Legislation: Royal Commissions Act 1902

1. 1 August 2016Commissioner Brian Martin resigned; new Letters Patent appointed Margaret White and Mick Gooda as joint Commissioners.
2. 9 February 2017Letters Patent amended; the reporting date, originally 31 March 2017, was extended, finally to 17 November 2017.
3. 31 March 2017Interim report presented.

The final report of the Royal Commission and Board of Inquiry, with more than 220 recommendations, was presented and tabled in the Commonwealth Parliament on 17 November 2017. It recommended closing the Don Dale centre, raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12 and a new approach to youth justice and child protection in the Territory.

• Inquiry into the Northern Territory youth detention system, including the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre
• Inquiry into the Northern Territory child protection system
• Recommendations on oversight, youth justice and child protection reform

Last in the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.

Loading lineage…