Raising the age: why it needs to be more than detention

Tasmania has recently been in the news for raising the age – not of criminal responsibility, but of detention. Amnesty welcomes this significant step in a smarter approach to justice. Putting children in prisons causes irreparable harm, governments know this, but continue to allow children to be subject to this treatment. The Tasmanian government recognising …

Moving kids with complex needs to maximum security prison shameful

Responding to the Western Australian government’s statement on moving children from Banksia Hill Detention Centre to the maximum security Casuarina Prison, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Lead, Maggie Munn, said: “Time and time again we have heard just how bad conditions are in Banksia Hill. In fact, District Court Judge Hylton Quail was quoted saying …

Tasmania’s commitment to raise the age of detention to 14 welcome, time to raise the age of criminal responsibility 

Amnesty International Australia welcomed today’s announcement by Tasmania’s Government to raise the age of detention from 10 to 14. Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Advisor, Rodney Dillon, said: “Although we don’t have a lot of detail on the plans at this stage, Amnesty welcomes this significant step in a smarter approach to justice. “Putting children …

Use of spit hoods can amount to torture in youth detention or anywhere else

Amnesty International Australia today joined calls from Aboriginal health and rights groups to end the use of spit hoods in detention. “We have written to Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner to ask him to respect the recommendations of the 2017 Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT and end …

AGs stop shortchanging our kids and raise the age to 14

Amnesty International today welcomed a commitment by States and Territories to work on a proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility, but criticised a lack of leadership by not committing to a minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) of 14. “This is not the compromise they think it is,” Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights …

ACT review shows clear pathway for all jurisdictions to raise the age

Amnesty International Australia today welcomed an independent review into raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 in the Australian Capital Territory, saying it outlines a clear pathway for other Australian jurisdictions to act on this essential reform. The ACT is the first Australian jurisdiction to commit to raising the age – a …