Queensland Premier David Crisafulliif his Liberal-National Party won the October state election.
Thehas passed legislation that will see children found guilty of serious crimes sentenced as adults. This includes murder, manslaughter, and robbery.
The plan has been criticised by Queensland’s Labor Opposition, as well as some legal experts and community advocacy groups.
Context
Children under the age of 10 cannot be heldin Queensland. If a child is charged between the ages of 10-14, prosecutors must prove they understood they were doing the wrong thing at the time of the alleged crime.
Murder carries a mandatory sentence of at least 20 years imprisonment in Queensland, followed by lifetime parole. New legislation means children in the state could receive this sentence.
The Government said the reform is about reducing youth crime rates and deterring future offenders.
New laws
Queensland’s LNP Government passed its ‘adult time, adult crime’ laws on Thursday. It said this would address what it’s called the state’s “youth crime crisis”.
Under the legislation, young people will face the same sentencing as adults for serious crimes including murder, manslaughter, robbery, and assault.
The reforms will also permit courts to consider the criminal history of a young person during sentencing.
Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie claimed youth offenders have been “flagrantly working the system to their advantage.”
Additionally, Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said the laws “send a clear message” to young people found doing the wrong thing.
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The State Government said the reforms “will help police officers protect Queenslanders”.
The legislation is expected to come into effect before Christmas.
Response
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) said while the reforms were “undoubtedly well-intentioned,” they won’t make communities safer.
ATSILS said young First Nations people in Queensland are 26 times more likely to go to jail than non-Indigenous youth. It warned the new laws “will result in the incarceration of more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children”.
The not-for-profit has urged the Queensland Government to “put more focus and funding towards prevention and early intervention programs.”
Further, family violence prevention advocacy group Change the Record and the Human Rights Law Centre have released a joint statement condemning the bill.
Change the Record National Director Blake Cansdale said, “Many children in the justice system are victims of crime themselves, and the cycle of incarceration only leads to more harm.”
Additionally, the Queensland Law Society said the new laws will place an increased burden on the courts.
Opposition
Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles accused the Crisafulli Government of rushing the legislation through parliament.
Speaking in State Parliament on Thursday, Miles said the changes could lead to “unintended consequences for victims”.
Then, Shadow Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer said Crisafulli “has ignored… the evidence around youth crime policies.”
