I am a permanent member of the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee which sat for estimates hearings on Friday, 24 July 2026.
Prior to estimates hearings, I asked the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support a question on notice for updated statistics about the rate and severity of reoffending for each youth detention centre, per the government's statistics also provided in 2024-25 here. The Minister did not provide an answer to the question (see page 37 of the responses to questions on notice).
During estimates, I raised this with the Director General of the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support and sought a response.
You can read our exchange below or in the official Parliamentary transcript of proceedings here.
Mr BERKMAN: I have a question for the director-general. Prehearing question on notice No. 19 asks for data on the frequency and severity of offending by young people exiting detention in the 12 months ending 30 June. The answer to that question says that it is unable to be produced ‘as framed’ in the question. You would be aware, Mr Drane, that I asked that question with reference to an earlier question on notice because that earlier question included precisely the data I am seeking but for a different 12-month period. Director-General, can you confirm that it is in fact possible to generate the same dataset but for children exiting detention in the 12-month period ending 30 June 2025?
Mr Drane: As I understand the question, it was asking for comparable data between the earlier question on notice, namely 117 of 2024, and the same series of data for the 12-month period ending 30 June 2025; is that correct?
Mr BERKMAN: That is correct. It is asking for the same dataset but just with respect to a different 12-month period.
Mr Drane: It may be the case that the interpretation of that data was that it was seeking a comparison of the two cohorts, and that probably contextualises the answer in the first paragraph in that there are a number of statistical anomalies in trying to compare the two cohorts for a number of reasons, but namely because pre and post offending encapsulates both cohorts in both time periods. That is the simplest way I can explain it. To answer the second part of your question, it is possible to produce reoffending rates and reductions in frequency and severity but not comparable to different cohorts over time.
Mr BERKMAN: If I understand your answer, you said verbatim that it is possible to generate that data. Can you please generate that data and provide it to the committee, which was the intention of the question on notice even if it was not conveyed that way.
Mr Drane: I will endeavour to see if we have that data available. Just to be clear, is the member seeking reductions in frequency and severity of offending for all youth?
Mr BERKMAN: For youth exiting detention in the 12-month period leading up to 30 June 2025.
Mr Drane: Yes, we will see if we can get that information for you before the end of the session, through the minister.
Mr BERKMAN: Similar to that earlier question on notice, if it could be broken down by detention centre and with respect to children who are Indigenous and non-Indigenous, as was the case in the earlier question.
Mr Drane: I will see what we can do in the timeframe.
Mr HUNT: Mr Speaker, point of order: the member has asked a question on notice which has been answered by the department in the best way they can. He is now seeking to reprosecute that question and get another answer in relation to the same question. I would put it that this hearing is not the appropriate place for this question and that the member needs to seek that information in another way. As I said, he is trying to reprosecute a question on notice.
Mr SPEAKER: I think it is fine. The director-general has taken it on notice and will come back at the end before we finish.
Mr BERKMAN: I would very much appreciate it. To be clear, I was simply trying to ask the same question again. If that was not clear, I apologise for that. It is clear now that the director-general has said he is able to produce that data—
Mr HUNT: I think he said he would try.
Mr BERKMAN: He said it is able to be produced—
Mr SPEAKER: No cross-chamber chatter. We are moving on.
Mr Drane: [...] The member for Maiwar’s question in relation to question on notice 19, in the time available we have managed to produce the information as it concerns all detention centres. For youth in custody between 2024 and 2025 there was a 44 per cent reduction in the frequency of offending after they exited and a 21 per cent reduction in the severity of offences post exit from custody. In the time we did not manage to break that down by detention centre. The member also asked about First Nations. That is comparable. It was a 44 per cent reduction and a 20 per cent reduction for First Nations youth.
[...]
Mr BERKMAN: Point of order, Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: We have reached the end of the time allocated—
Mr BERKMAN: Speaker, before the session runs out, is it possible that that information that could not be put together in time is taken on notice? It was put as a question on notice that was misunderstood so it seems reasonable that it might be taken on notice at the end of the session.
Mr SPEAKER: The minister is not taking it.
Mr BERKMAN: Will the minister take it on notice?
Mr SPEAKER: Time has expired. We have reached the end of the time allocated to examine the proposed expenditure for the youth justice and victim support portfolio area. The committee will now adjourn for a break. The hearing will resume at 7 pm with examination of estimates for the portfolio area of Corrective Services.