Advocates “Bitterly Disappointed” As NT Prepares To Raise Age Of Criminal Responsibility To 12
“Until governments are brave enough to put the interests of Aboriginal people...above law-and-order politics, we are going to see decades more of failed government policies,"
Youth justice advocates have criticised the Northern Territory government for a “bitterly disappointing” adjustment to the age of criminal responsibility, which would see children as young as twelve remain in jail.
Lawmakers in the NT are preparing to present a bill that would raise the criminal age of responsibility in the state from 10 to 12 years of age, following a nationwide push to promote alternative rehabilitation methods in youth detention; a form of punishment that disproportionately harms First Nations people.
While the NT Legal Aid chief executive Annmarie Lumsden has called the decision a “watershed moment” according to the ABC, the peak body behind the #raisetheage campaign has slammed the legislation for falling short of United Nations recommendation that the minimum criminal age of responsibility be set at 14 years of age.
“The NT Government has accepted the minimum age of criminal responsibility is far too low,” Change the Record’s Cheryl Axleby said in a statement.
“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.”
Greens Senator Lydia Thorpe commended the Northern Territory government on the proposed legislation, stressed that changes were “good, but it’s not enough”, citing medical evidence and human rights standards.
Congratulations NT Labor for raising the age from 10 to 12. This is good, but it’s not enough. International human rights standards, medical evidence + First Nations advocates all agree that we need to raise the age of legal responsibility to at least 14. https://t.co/JxFWNfL2sy
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) October 13, 2022
While the legislation will be the first instance of an Australian state or territory raising the age of criminal responsibility in Australian history, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) warned that many young children will remain incarcerated.
“This will leave twelve and thirteen-year-olds in prison instead of at school and home where they belong,” an AYAC spokesperson said.
The proposed bill which is expected to pass today will come into effect in early 2023.