In the middle of the worst crime crisis the Northern Territory has ever seen, the Labor Government have decided to raise the age of criminal responsibility.
Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Josh Burgoyne said the change wouldn’t stop a single crime from happening, rather stop consequences that lead to offenders being held accountable for their actions.
“The current system leaves the determination with a judge, but this takes the interaction young people have with our courts away, and one more tool away from our police,” he said.
The Northern Territory Police Association have also come out against this change, highlighting the number of serious incidences being committed by young offenders.
In May, a 10-year-old boy was handed a slew of charges after two days of alleged criminal behaviour involving damage to a public bus, and theft from a small business along Mitchell Street before returning the next day in the company of other children continuing to steal and damage property.
His charges included engage violent behaviour, aggravated unlawful entry, stealing, and aggravated robbery.
Mr Burgoyne said the community was already drowning under a wave of youth crime.
“The community sees the impact of this offending on their businesses, on their livelihoods, and on their community and now we know there will be no consequences for serious offending against them,” he said.
“We have a Fyles Labor government who don’t want consequences for young people’s actions, yet are failing to deliver the very programs that would keep them off the street.”
This was on the back of the Fyles Labor government knocking back an inquiry into the police crisis for a fourth time in the Parliament today.
“The CLP Opposition might get knocked down but we will continue to fight for our communities and our police,” he said.
ENDS