Young criminals, like the ones behind the siege in Alice Springs this week, will not be held accountable under Labor’s new soft-on-crime laws, according to Shadow Minister for Territory Families Joshua Burgoyne.
The new laws, raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years of age, will be debated at the next parliamentary sitting.
Mr Burgoyne said a group of youths rampaged through the streets in stolen vehicles, forcing police officers to pull back and send out an alert for locals to stay out of the CBD.
“Labor is telling us these kids cannot be held accountable for the crimes because they are too young to know it is wrong,” he said.
“Labor’s alternative is to divert these criminals in programs that are not only unproven but, as yet, don’t even exist.
“No young person will be legally bound to attend any diversion or any other program once these changes are implemented.
“This is a backwards step when we are increasingly seeing young people participating in criminal behaviour.
“This will further worsen the situation the Territory finds itself in and lead to more offending.”
Mr Burgoyne said young people don’t suddenly becomes criminals.
“Something in their lives has gone horribly wrong and we need to address these issues. But telling them there are no consequences for their actions is not going to help,” he said.
“We want to ensure young people are supported to reform their behaviours and sometimes that means court ordered programs.
“Under these changes, young people who have offended will never see the inside of a court room and will have no legal obligation to attend programs.”
ENDS