The Aporia
Williams, C. (2026, October 9). Remand centre built for adults to remain open to children over capacity concerns. ABC News (AU). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-09/wacol-youth-remand-centre-breach-bail-go-to-jail-capacity/107244674
Williams, Claudia. “Remand centre built for adults to remain open to children over capacity concerns.” ABC News (AU), 9 Oct. 2026, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-09/wacol-youth-remand-centre-breach-bail-go-to-jail-capacity/107244674.
Williams, Claudia. “Remand centre built for adults to remain open to children over capacity concerns.” ABC News (AU), October 9, 2026. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-09/wacol-youth-remand-centre-breach-bail-go-to-jail-capacity/107244674.
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In April last year, Queensland's Wacol Youth Remand Centre began housing children aged 10 to 18 after its original purpose as an adult detention facility. This move was intended as a safer alternative to police watch houses for those awaiting placement in one of the state's youth detention centers. However, Anthony Reilly, Queensland’s detention services inspector, recently released a report stating it would be "beneficial" to keep housing children at this center due to capacity concerns under proposed breach bail laws. He noted that while it is not considered a suitable facility for minors, it remains more appropriate than keeping children in adult police watch houses designed originally for adults. The report highlights the state's plan to introduce new legislation where breaching bail could result in jail time, potentially overwhelming youth detention centers and necessitating continued use of Wacol Remand Centre despite its original design flaws.