Commonwealth Government receives petition of two hundred thousand Australians calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be lifted to at least 14 years old
Today in a national first, the Commonwealth Government received the #RaiseTheAge petition of over two hundred thousand Australians and reiterated its commitment to working with states and territories to keep very young children out of the criminal legal system.
Today Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney met with representatives from Change the Record, human rights, legal and First Nations-led organisations who handed over 200,000 thousand signatures of Australians who want to see the age raised to at least 14 years old.
Cheryl Axleby, Co-Chair of Change the Record:
“Today we delivered the clear message from hundreds of thousands of Australians who want to see children looked after in our communities, homes and schools - not sent to prison. We thank the Attorney General and Minister for Indigenous Australians for accepting our petition and for their commitment to #RaiseTheAge. We are calling on every state and territory government to heed the medical, legal and child development experts who have been crystal clear: no child under the age of 14 years old should be arrested, hauled before a court or convicted of a criminal offence.”
Maggie Munn, Amnesty International Australia:
“Raising the minimum age from 10 to 14 is the absolute least that governments can do to implement their commitment to First Nations people and justice in this country. 200,000 people have spoken, they’ve taken action and they’re angry that it’s taking this long. It’s time to raise the age, it’s time for the Federal and State and Territory governments to act on their constituents’ demands, on the evidence that’s on their desks, and we will hold them accountable. Our children deserve better, and we will keep fighting until they get it.”
Nick Espie, Human Rights Law Centre:
“No child belongs in prison. Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from ten to at least 14 years old is one action that governments across the country can take right now that will give our children a brighter future. Over 200,000 Australians have spoken in favour of the urgent need to raise the age, and it is time for the Attorney General and Minister for Indigenous Australians to listen. The evidence is clear, young children belong with their families and in community, not in prisons. We call on all Attorneys-General to take action now and end the injustice of locking up children, so every child has the chance to succeed.”
Priscilla Atkins, Chair National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service
“The national and international support has been clear and this is one action that the Australian Government can take that may have a generational impact for our children. When children are in prison, the government has failed. Our children are disproportionately impacted by these laws and we encourage other states and territories to condemn this practice.”
State and territory petition signatories will be handed over to state and territory Attorneys General and members of Parliament over the coming weeks.