Church Will Seek Justice For Keelong
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday November 13, 2008
FIGTREE Anglican Church is lobbying the NSW Government to reverse its decision to close Keelong Juvenile Justice Centre.
Senior minister Reverend Ian Barnett said the 1000-member church, which has assisted rehabilitation of Keelong detainees for the past nine years, would circulate a petition this weekend opposing the move."I know it's a financial decision, but literally lives are at stake with these young boys," Rev Barnett said.The church's protest comes as letters from Keelong detainees, staff and parents have arrived at the Mercury, expressing disillusionment at the NSW Government's decision to close the Unanderra centre by March next year.The decision was confirmed in Tuesday's state mini-budget, among Department of Juvenile Justice savings of $17.2 million.Keelong, which employs about 100 people plus school teachers and accommodates 23 detainees, is a minimum security centre that provides opportunity for reintegration.Just last week the Federal Government awarded Figtree Anglican Church's Outreach Youth program an Australia Crime and Violence Prevention Award worth $5000 for its work with Keelong inmates and at-risk youth.Rev Barnett was at a loss to understand how one level of government could recognise a partnership that helped reduce crime, while another could effectively close it down."The State Government is closing the only centre in NSW that has successfully integrated the operations of the centre, family leave, the community, social role models ... it's a different facility," he said."I think it's sad for the community. Keelong has had a history of trying to provide different care."The church campaign will be welcomed by detainees, who have pleaded for Keelong to remain open to ensure they remain close to their families."Most of the detainees are here on long terms and we have really earned our stay in a minimum security centre," the detainees said in a letter to the Mercury."We have been placed in a bad situation and our families are shocked."Relocation to a larger facility would provide little incentive to steer them from a life of crime, especially as there was no day leave or outings available."The boys and workers enjoy the system that is run behind these fences," the letter said.A letter from Keelong staff and families described the decision as "cynical and superficial"."Have the needs of the community of the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands become of so little importance to the current NSW Government?" the letter asked.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury