Victoria’s Liberal and Nationals Coalition has pledged to establish a youth offender bootcamp at the former Dhurringile Prison, with teenagers facing strict daily routines involving physical activity, farm work, cleaning, maintenance and compulsory education.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the proposed facility would focus on discipline, respect, practical skills and making young offenders understand the consequences of breaking the law.
Under the plan, courts would be given the power to send offenders aged 14 to 17 to the bootcamp as an alternative to a community corrections order or another custodial sentence.
Unlike existing youth justice custodial orders, participation in the daily programme would be compulsory, with no option for young people to avoid the scheduled activities.
The programme would include physical training, farm work, cooking, laundry, cleaning and maintenance, alongside education and skills development.
The Coalition said the model was inspired by Queensland’s Circuit Breaker programme. The former Dhurringile Prison, located in regional Victoria, has been identified as the proposed site.
Wilson said the policy was intended to address what she described as a lack of consequences for young offenders under the current Labor Government.
“Under Labor, young offenders feel there are no consequences – that must change,” she said.
“Our tough new bootcamps will instil the discipline and respect lacking in so many young offenders and give them the skills they need to get on the right path.”
Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury said the proposal would place community safety at the centre of the Coalition’s approach to youth justice.
“Under Labor, young offenders are running rampant and getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist,” Newbury said.
“Under a Liberal and Nationals Government, there will be consequences and community safety will always come first.”
Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections Brad Battin said the bootcamp would have a demanding daily structure.
“At our bootcamp there will be no soft options, no sitting around and no getting out of the hard work.”
Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Renee Heath said the proposal was designed to provide structure and practical skills while making young offenders accountable for their actions.
The bootcamp forms part of a broader Coalition law-and-order policy package, which also includes recruiting 3,000 additional police officers, returning Protective Services Officers (PSOs) to every metropolitan train station and introducing tougher bail provisions for serious offences.
Other proposed measures include Real Adult Crime, Adult Time laws covering offences such as arson and motor vehicle theft, a one-strike bail rule for serious offences and a new Court of Criminal Appeal with specialist judges to enforce the Coalition’s proposed laws.
The announcement outlines the Coalition’s proposed approach if elected, with further details about the bootcamp’s operation, implementation and costs not included in the policy statement.
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