All children need to be nurtured, supported and educated.

Their brains, judgement and decision-making are still developing and their experiences have lifelong impacts. But in New South Wales children between 10 and 13 are treated with criminal responsibility and can be put before courts and jailed. Prison, including juvenile detention, is no place for children: it only sets them up for a lifetime of re-offending and disadvantage, with First Nations children disproportionately affected.

There is no safety benefit from criminalising children. Other countries have different approaches and the University of New South Wales Centre for Crime Law and Justice has released a report on alternative models that work with families and provide support while protecting victims. In Parliament I called on the government to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. My speech > HERE.  

Add your voice to the campaign > HERE.