Articles by Daniella White,Rachel Eddie

Politics

Plan for children to face life sentences draws wave of condemnation

Proposed laws that would allow children as young as 14 to be sentenced as adults have drawn a wave of condemnation from human rights and legal experts, while the opposition insists the plan is not tough enough. Premier Jacinta Allan revealed that complex legislation required to change the way violent youth offenders are dealt with by the justice system was still being drafted, with a bill to be introduced to parliament by the end of this year. “I want adult time for violent crime to commence as soon as possible,” she said. “We must send a very clear message, and indeed deliver the serious consequences that need to come as a result from people who commit these violent crimes.” But the plan was immediately denounced by the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), Youthlaw, and the Les Twentyman Foundation, 54 reasons (which implements Save the Children services in Australia) and the Greens as a shameful and punitive overreach.