2020-08-18
The ACT Greens are calling on the other parties to commit to raising the age of criminal responsibility from ten to fourteen years, with a vote to go before the Assembly this week.
This follows a recent letter from leading community groups including, but not limited to, the ACT Human Rights Commission, ACTCOSS, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services,Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, Anglicare NSW South/ACT, the Law Society, the Youth Coalition of the ACT and others, that recently called on the ACT Government to take this important step to further protect vulnerable children in our community.
“We should be supporting kids to thrive in family, community and culture, not forcing them into the quicksand of the criminal legal system,” the letter reads.
The decision to raise the age of criminal responsibility rests with respective Attorneys-General, across Australian jurisdictions. At the recent meeting of Commonwealth Attorney-Generals, the states and territories were not able to reach consensus on a national approach.
Comments attributable to ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury:
“Children as young as 10 simply don't belong in prison. The ACT can lead the way on this issue. We don’t need to sit around and wait for others to get their act together - we can make this decision.
“Australia’s minimum age of criminal responsibility of 10 is well and truly out of step with the rest of the world, and we have been chastised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which recommends raising the age to 14.
“Where children are imprisoned, it sets the trajectory for the rest of their lives and increases the risk they will be involved in the adult criminal justice system as they mature. The Greens know it is better to provide them with the help they need to stay on the right path.
“The Greens have long called for improved early intervention programs for young people at risk. We believe that with the right supports in place, and a well resourced youth sector, we can provide better alternatives to custody for children under 14.
“The ACT is a good place to advocate for this important change, as we already have so few children in custody - it is an entirely solvable problem, and a place where we can give these children a brighter future.
“Our preference is that the Standing Council of Attorneys-General should act decisively to make this reform. But it seems they will not, so the ACT should be willing to go it alone - we should not be held to the lowest common denominator on such an important question.”