CHANGE THE RECORD

"BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED": NT Government raises the age to just 12 years

"BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED": NT Government raises the age to just 12 years

Today the Change the Record Coalition has slammed the NT Government’s decision to only raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old, leaving twelve and thirteen year olds behind bars instead of at school and at home where they belong. 


The NT Government’s decision comes despite overwhelming calls from medical and legal experts, social services, Aboriginal controlled community organisations and families calling for the age to be raised to at least 14 years old. 


Attributable to Cheryl Axleby, Chair of Change the Record: 


“We are bitterly disappointed that the NT Government has thrown away another opportunity to get very young children out of police and prison cells, and support them in community where they belong. 


“The NT Government has accepted the minimum age of criminal responsibility is far too low. What is disappointing is that the NT Government has chosen to kowtow to the pressure of the NT Police Association, rather than listen to the medical and child development experts who have been crystal clear that governments must raise the age to 14 as a bare minimum. 


“Until governments are brave enough to put the interests of Aboriginal people, our children and the safety of the whole community above law-and-order politics, we are going to see decades more of failed government policies and broken lives.


“There is still time for the NT Government to do the right thing and amend this legislation to raise the age to at least 14 years old and invest in health and youth services that actually meet the needs of these kids, instead of locking them away.” 


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