Liberals announce plans for teen prison bootcamp for young offenders

Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson has announced a plan to allow courts to send young offenders to the former Dhurringile Prison for a new bootcamp program if the Coalition wins November's state election.

The program would include daily physical tasks such as farm work or cleaning.

The site closed in September 2024, but local environmental and Aboriginal organisations were negotiating a purchase before the election.

The Victorian opposition says it will send young offenders to a bootcamp program near Shepparton if elected in November

Under the Coalition plan, courts could send offenders aged between 14 and 17 to the program as an alternative to a community corrections order or other custodial sentence.

The former Dhurringile Prison near Murchison would serve as a base for the program, where those sentenced would undertake daily tasks including farm work, cleaning, maintenance, cooking and education.

Unlike existing youth justice custodial orders, young offenders sent to the bootcamp would be required to take part in the daily program.

Opposition leader Jess Wilson announced the new bootcamp program at the Coalition's campaign launch today and criticised Labor for having no plans for the facility.

"This is about instilling the discipline and respect that so many young offenders have not learned throughout their life, and crucially, giving them the skills they need to get on the right path," she said.

Nationals candidate for Shepparton Shane Sali said the program would benefit the local community.

"Bringing new activity to the facility will create opportunities for the local area, while helping address an issue that is affecting families, businesses and communities right across the Goulburn Valley," he said.

A similar program for older prisoners currently runs in Langi Kal Kal, in Victoria's west, focusing on agricultural work and preparing prisoners for life in the community.

Labor criticised the announcement and said it was a "half-baked thought bubble" and that their own mandatory rehabilitation detention plan had been successfully tested in other countries.

"Labor has a fully costed $204 million plan, a clear legislative pathway and the facilities to start putting our plan in place immediately."

Premier Ben Carroll did not specifically respond to the plan at the Labor Party's launch today but focused on his record, saying he had built frontline services.

"We focused on community safety, boosting police powers as well as committing to hire another 1,500 more police and build a second police academy in Melbourne's west," he said.

In April last year, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation were negotiating to purchase the site, but were awaiting a costing from the Victorian government.

Greater Shepparton City Council had also expressed interest in purchasing the site early last year, but withdrew its interest.

In October last year, it was revealed in parliament that maintenance at the site had cost just over $2 million for the year after the prison closed.

No income had been generated from leasing or farming activity since then.