ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury has reportedly confirmed work will begin on a draft legislation that would immediately increase the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and then to 14 in two years.
The ACT was the first jurisdiction in Australia to support raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years, saying it will move ahead without other states and territories if a national consensus isn’t reached.
“Exposing children and young people to the criminal justice system can have a significant impact on their neurological and social development and can result in life-long interactions with the justice system,” says the Government.
“By raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, we can provide options for therapeutic and restorative care to reduce children and young people’s interaction with the criminal justice system, better meet the needs of these young children and their families and keep the Canberra community safe.”
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