Victoria's Liberals plan bootcamp at former prison for youth offenders
The Liberal opposition plans a bootcamp at the closed Dhurringile Prison for offenders aged 14 to 17.
Why it matters
The two major Victorian parties now differ on youth justice: public bootcamps versus intensive residential rehabilitation.
In Australia. If the Coalition wins November 28, Victoria's courts would gain a new sentencing option for young offenders convicted of crimes.
Key facts
- 14 to 17 years
- Offender age range
- just over 2 million dollars
- Annual maintenance cost
- September 2024
- Prison closed
- $204 million
- Labor's plan cost
- Opposition leader Jess Wilson announced the plan at the Coalition's campaign launch.
- Courts could send young offenders to the former Dhurringile Prison near Shepparton as an alternative to community corrections or other custody.
- Daily tasks would include farm work, cleaning, maintenance, cooking and education.
- The site closed in September 2024 but has been sitting unused, costing just over $2 million each year to maintain.
- A similar farm work program runs at Langi Kal Kal in Victoria's west.
- Labor called it half-baked, pointing to their own $204 million mandatory rehabilitation plan.
