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SIGN THE PETITION TO END SHACKLING OF PREGNANT PEOPLE WHILE GIVING BIRTH: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/petition-details/4747-26
On the 18th August Senator Lydia Thorpe introduced 2 private members bills into parliament; the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting Shackling During Childbirth) Bill 2026 and the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026.
In March, the Human Rights Law Centre released a report, Ending Strip Searching in Australian Prisons, repeating the evidence that strip searches just don't work despite thousands of strip searches being conducted across Australian prisons every day. The Office of the WA Inspector of Custodial Services reports that of the 900,000 strip searches in WA jails in the 5 years between 2014 and 2019, items were found only .28% of times and were rarely dangerous items. In NSW, data from April 2022 shows that from 127 strip searches at 2 youth prisons items were found only 3 occasions.
The report also highlighted the less invasive alternatives to strip searching including X-ray equipment, installed in most prisons already but children are instead forced to strip for adult prison guards without consideration of the ongoing abuse children are subjected to by authorities in the prison system. In a society where trafficking and sexual violence targeting children is escalating, our tax-payer funded institutions need to be held accountable for creating environments that support child abuse.
Thorpe, the independent senator for Victoria, has worked alongside agencies The National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, Rad Faction, Sisters Inside and individuals living the experience of ongoing trauma from these cruel and unnecessary abuses.
After 6 weeks of enquiries, submissions and evidence from living experience experts, the LNP and Labor voted to continue shackling and strip searching.
The states are now encouraged to raise this in state parliament, with Jonty Bush starting the petition in Queensland Parliament.
Sign it here: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/petition-details/4747-26