The returned Palaszczuk Government must raise the age of criminal responsibility in Queensland, after Deputy Premier Jackie Trad rejected the recommendation to Amnesty International’s Human Rights Agenda for the Next Queensland State Government.
The Deputy Premier, in a written response to the agenda, supported some recommendations that Amnesty International said would contribute to a strong youth justice agenda that is based in evidence and ensures children’s rights are protected. This included committing the government to implementing the 20-year Our Way plan, supporting and expanding community-led justice reinvestment programs, and continuing to transition 17-year-olds out of adult prisons.
Trad wrote however, that the government “does not have any plans at the moment to change the age of criminal responsibility.
“The election result shows that Queenslanders support the State’s move towards evidence-based policies that help Queensland kids to thrive.”
Paul Toner, Queensland Branch President for Amnesty International.
“The election result shows that Queenslanders support the State’s move towards evidence-based policies that help Queensland kids to thrive,” said Paul Toner, Queensland Branch President for Amnesty International.
“It’s disappointing then to see the government reject a recommendation to change the age of criminal responsibility. Locking up kids as young as 10 is damaging for their development, places severe limitations on them reaching their potential and is a clear breach of international law”.
Just last month, the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory recommended to raise the age of criminal responsibility to twelve. The ALP Gunner Government accepted the recommendation in-principle and will release an plan outlining its implementation in March.
The Queensland Greens accepted the Amnesty International’s recommendation to raise the age. The Liberal National Party, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and the Katter Australia Party did not respond.
