18 June 2024
The SA Greens are urging the State Government to commit to raising the age of criminal responsibility in South Australia following today’s news that Victoria will change its laws to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility.
In Question Time today, Greens Justice Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC asked Attorney-General Kyam Maher if the State Government will commit to raising the age of criminal responsibility in line with Victoria’s move, but in his response the Attorney-General refused to make a commitment.
“Victoria will soon join the Northern Territory and the ACT in raising the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and the ACT has also committed to raising the age to 14 in the near future. In South Australia, children continue to languish in prisons, exposing them to trauma and harm and pushing them down a path that often leads to criminal behaviour in adulthood. The State Government must step up and commit to raising the age.”
Mr Simms has a bill before Parliament to raise the age of criminal responsibility in South Australia from 10 to 14. In 2022 a petition with more than 11,000 signatures was presented to Attorney-General Kyam Maher in support of the reform.