‘International embarrassment’: WA government taken to task over treatment of Aboriginal children in detention

At Banksia Hill detention centre (pictured) ‘the government is engaging in unlawful conduct towards the children and is seemingly thumbing its nose,’ Dr Hannah McGlade says. Photograph: David Dare Parker/The Guardian

An Indigenous human rights expert and member of the United Nations has taken the West Australian government to task over its treatment of Aboriginal children in detention, claiming it is an international embarrassment.

Dr Hannah McGlade, lawyer and member of the UN permanent forum on Indigenous issues, said WA was risking its human rights reputation.