Daniel Andrews threatens to go it alone to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria
Thu, 16 Feb 2023
Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria, has indicated that the state may independently raise the age of criminal responsibility rather than wait for a national consensus. He plans to introduce legislation addressing youth justice and related reforms in the first half of the year, emphasising the need for change. Currently, children as young as 10 can be arrested, and recent discussions have considered raising the age to either 12 or 14, with exceptions for serious offences. Louise Conwell noted, “This decision is a significant step toward protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that our justice system reflects compassion and understanding.” Some states, like the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, have already committed to raising the age, while Andrews expressed a desire not to delay further progress.