Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Australia.
Human rights advocates and Indigenous groups voice concerns over youth justice rollback
Children as young as 10 can once again be jailed in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) following the government’s decision to lower the age of criminal responsibility. This move comes after the previous administration had raised the age to 12, aligning with global trends and pressure from the United Nations to raise it further to 14.
The newly elected Country Liberal Party government argues that lowering the age back to 10 will help combat youth crime by allowing early intervention, despite opposition from doctors, human rights advocates, and Indigenous leaders. They point out that this policy disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who are already overrepresented in the NT’s justice system.
The Northern Territory has the highest youth incarceration rates in Australia, with Aboriginal children making up nearly all of the jailed youth. Critics argue that jailing children is counterproductive, leading to higher reoffending rates and worsening social outcomes such as health, education, and employment prospects.
Despite the pushback, the government claims it has a mandate from voters following an election campaign focused on being tough on crime. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro emphasized the importance of intervening in young offenders' lives early, stating that the policy will help "turn their lives around" by addressing the root causes of crime through rehabilitation programs. The government also plans to tighten bail rules.
However, research from Australia and abroad shows that incarcerating young children does more harm than good, often entrenching them further in cycles of crime. A recent report from the Australian Human Rights Commission recommended diverting funds from jailing children into support services that target the root causes of crime, such as poverty, trauma, and lack of access to education.
As the law was debated, protesters gathered outside NT Parliament, holding signs highlighting the impact of imprisoning children so young. One sign read, "10 year olds still have baby teeth," underscoring the vulnerability of such young children in the justice system.
Advocates fear that this reversal could slow down national momentum to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility across Australia. The Australian Capital Territory is the only jurisdiction to have successfully raised the age above 10, while Victoria and Tasmania have committed to doing so in the coming years.
Indigenous leaders and youth justice advocates continue to call for reforms that focus on addressing the underlying issues driving youth crime, rather than punitive measures that they believe worsen the problem.
