Submission to the inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system
The Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT) has submitted a detailed response to the inquiry into Australia's youth justice and incarceration system. AADANT highlights that all Australians, including children and young people, deserve a safe environment and access to quality healthcare. The submission criticises the prevailing "tough on crime" approaches in the Northern Territory, stressing their failure to create safer communities and the disproportionate impact on Aboriginal Territorians. AADANT calls for a shift to evidence-based, public health responses that focus on harm reduction and human rights over punitive measures, advocating for policies that encourage access to support without fear of stigma. While focused on the Northern Territory, AADANT's recommendations have broader implications for youth justice policies across the country.