A tragic incident has occurred at Banksia Hill youth detention centre in Western Australia, where a 17-year-old Aboriginal teenager died in custody. This marks the second child death in custody in the state in less than a year. The teenager was found unresponsive in his cell after being checked on multiple times throughout the day. Despite calling out from his cell prior to his death, authorities claimed that his cries were not suggestive of harm. The corrective services minister and the premier of Western Australia expressed confidence in the youth detention system, but independent senator Lidia Thorpe criticized the government for failing to take responsibility for the deaths. She called for federal action to address what she described as a “national crisis.” The incident has reignited criticism of the conditions at Banksia Hill, which has been plagued by reports of self-harm, suicide attempts, and destructive behavior by detainees. This tragedy comes on the heels of another child death in custody late last year, highlighting the challenges facing the youth justice system in Western Australia. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, as authorities grapple with the ongoing issues within the state’s only youth detention center. Support services such as Lifeline and Indigenous crisis hotline are available for those in need of assistance.
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