A secret report on raising the age of criminal responsibility will be publicly released after a meeting between Australia’s attorneys-general.
Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Friday met his state and territory counterparts to discuss Australia’s justice system, including reforms about the age of criminal responsibility.
In a communique released after the virtual meeting, the leaders agreed to release a draft report on the age of criminal responsibility, which was prepared for the Council of Attorneys-General.
“The 2020 Draft Report gave detailed consideration to the existing legal and policy framework and the reforms that could be considered to raise the age of criminal responsibility,” it reads.
“The working group identified the need for further work to occur regarding the need for adequate supports and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour.”
Since November last year, state attorneys-general have supported a proposal to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, the statement said.
The Northern Territory recently lifted its age of criminal responsibility to 12.
Co-chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, wrote an open letter to Victoria’s attorney-general Jaclyn Symes, urging her to raise the age.
“Ten years old, that’s so young. It’s like a baby to me. Our children need love and a helping hand, not to be thrown into concrete cells,” she said.
A spokesman for Dreyfus said the government was working closely with its partners on the issue.
“The decision by the Northern Territory to raise the age to 12 is evidence of the progress being made,” he said.
“This working group is paying particular attention to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the criminal justice system.”
Earlier, Women’s Minister Katy Gallagher said the federal government should be a leader in driving reforms for how sexual assault complaints are dealt with while also considering important principles of the courts, such as the presumption of innocence.
The communique said all participants in the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes for victims and survivors of sexual assault in the criminal justice system.
“This will continue to be a priority for participants over the coming year and over the course of the Work Plan to Strengthen Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault 2022-2027,” it reads.
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