Every child should be free to go to school, have a safe home to live in and be supported to learn from their mistakes – not locked away in prisons and police cells.
Last month, the Allan Government introduced draft laws into the Victorian Parliament that propose raising the minimum age to 12 without exception. Nowhere in the draft laws is the commitment to raise the age to 14 enshrined. Now is the time to ramp up the public pressure and let politicians know we demand better for all Victorian children.
While the Victorian Government committed to raise the age from 10 to 12 years old now, and raise the age to 14 in 2027, that is not good enough. The Allan Government must seize this opportunity to strengthen the draft laws and raise the age to at least 14 now, and with no exceptions.
This is the bare minimum step the Victorian Government must take in line with medical expert advice, international human rights standards, recommendations made by the Yoorrook Justice Commission and numerous other reports and inquiries.
Right now though, instead of hearing the chorus of calls from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, legal and human rights groups for urgent change, the Victorian Government is ratcheting up a tough on crime agenda being pushed for by the conservative media.
Alarmingly, the draft laws before the Victorian Parliament also propose new powers for police to transport children aged 10 and 11 in a police vehicle; detain them in police stations; use force on them; and subject them to searches.
Evidence shows that police interaction with children can harm children, and these proposed powers must be abandoned.
We must demand better. Will you join us in emailing your Attorney General today?
Thanks for standing with us to ensure that every child in Victoria can grow up happy and healthy with their family and community.
Yours with determination,
The National Raise the Age Campaign
