Statement from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers with respect to today’s Northern Territory youth detention judgement

21 March 2017

Please attribute the following statement to Ben Slade, Maurice Blackburn Class Actions Principal:

We are greatly encouraged that the Northern Territory Supreme Court has today found that some of the treatment of four young people while in custody at the Don Dale Detention Centre was unreasonable in the circumstances and has not only awarded them compensation, but has ordered that aggravated damages be paid.

In light of this verdict, we call on the Northern Territory Government to take this opportunity to meet with us, and to work through an appropriate settlement of our class action to ensure that all youths who suffered poor treatment within the Northern Territory’s youth detention centres can be given some justice for the awful deprivations that they have suffered.