On 11 September 2024, the Senate referred the following matter to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, for inquiry and report by 26 November 2024:

Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system, with particular reference to:

a) the outcomes and impacts of youth incarceration in jurisdictions across Australia;
b) the over-incarceration of First Nations children;
c) the degree of compliance and non-compliance by state, territory and federal prisons and detention centres with the human rights of children and young people in detention;
d) the Commonwealth’s international obligations in regards to youth justice including the rights of the child, freedom from torture and civil rights;
e) the benefits and need for enforceable national minimum standards for youth justice consistent with our international obligations; and
f) any related matters.

The closing date for submissions is 10 October 2024.