Change the Record, the only national First Nations-led justice coalition has condemned the decision of the Meeting of Attorneys General (MAG) as empty, inadequate and failing to improve the lives of children and young people.
We understand the Attorneys General decided on Friday 12 November to “support developing a proposal to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 including with regard to any carve outs, timing and discussion of implementation supports.”
Attributable to Change the Record Co-Chair Cheryl Axleby:
“This is a nothing announcement that does nothing to improve the lives of children, and nothing to close the gap. The medical evidence is clear: governments should raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years old as a bare minimum.
“Last year almost 500 children under the age of 14 languished behind bars, disproportionately Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This proposed reform would do nothing to help those children - it just kicks the can further down the road.
"Many 12 year olds are still in primary school. 13 year olds are starting their first year of high school. These children need our love and support to learn from their mistakes, grow and thrive. No child belongs behind prison bars.
“Three years ago Attorneys General committed to explore options to raise the age and they have done nothing since then. Only the ACT has taken action in line with the medical evidence to raise the age.
“The United Nations, and over thirty other countries, have called on Australia to raise the age to at least 14 years old. This ‘nothing announcement’ for a proposal to not even raise the age to the bare minimum is devastating for kids who are being harmed by the criminal legal system, and their families.
If Covid has taught governments anything, it’s that you can’t pick and choose what medical advice you follow. The doctor’s orders are clear: raise the age to at least 14 years old.”