Raise the Age

The United Nations, human rights, academics, medical and legal bodies have long advocated for Australia to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years old. First Nations children are disproportionately impacted, and are nine times more likely to be in custody than non-Indigenous children. First Nations children alone account for up to 65 percent of these young people in custody.

The Raise the Age Campaign exists to advocate for all governments to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 without exception and to support and fund alternatives to the criminal legal system and incarceration for as-risk children.

What is happening with raising the age in your state?

NSW 

• In NSW the current age of criminal responsibility is ten, with the government making no announcements on raising the age. 
• Organization’s and members of Raise the Age NSW run and deliver services that model better ways to support children to thrive outside of the criminal justice system. This is achieved through strengthening communities and assisting children who need specialist support and care.

Qld

• In Queensland the current age of criminal responsibility is ten. Qld Raise the Age campaign advocates for children under 14 to be diverted away from the youth justice system. Additionally, RTA Qld calls for increased and sustainable funding towards community support services, addressing the root causes of children’s offending behavior. 

SA  

• Currently the minimum age of criminal responsibility in South Australia is ten. Over the past decade, Change the Record, the Human Rights Law Centre, SACOSS and around 40 community advocacy organisations in SA have been calling for the government to raise the age to 14 with no exceptions. With over 12,000 South Australian’s signed a petition to raise the age, calling for more effective support services to be put in place.

WA 

• The minimum age of criminal responsibility in WA currently sits at ten; as of 2024 the government has not made any attempts to increase the criminal age of responsibility. 
• Unit 18 is a juvenile wing at a maximum security adult prison, over the last year, two children committed suicide whist in detention, showcasing the extreme lack of support children are receiving and the need for urgent reform and legislation addressing this issue.
• Social Reinvestment, Change the Record and Raise the Age WA are working together to campaign to raise the age, providing information to the public, writing submissions to council and offering alternatives to children imprisonment.

Vic 

• Currently the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Victoria is ten years old. 
• In August 2024, current Premier Jacinta Allen backtracked on the commitment to raise the age to 14 that was instated by the previous government.
• In response, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service has been regularly holding and participating in community forums, where raising the age of criminal responsibility is a top priority.

ACT

• Currently the Australian Capital Territory minimum age for criminal responsibility is 12; with plans to increase the age to 14 in 2025 under the Age of Criminal Responsibility Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. The ACT was the first jurisdiction to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

Tas

• In December 2023, the Tasmanian Government committed to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from ten to 14 by 2029 without exception. In addition Tas will increase the minimum age of detention to 16 and create alternatives for those who are 14 and 15 years old by 2029. 
• Whilst this is a positive move in the right direction, the delay in implementing this reform allows for the criminalisation of children under 14 for another five years and risks legislative changes from future governments 

NT

• In August 2023 the minimum age was raised from ten to 12 in the Northern Territory. Regrettably, as of the 2024 election the Country Liberal Party (CLP) has reversed the legislation. Under the changes, ten year old children will again be incarcerated.

Get Involved

• Sign the petition to raise the age.
• Share on social media!
• Donate to ANTAR’s Justice Appeal to support our advocacy to raise the age.
• Write to your Federal and State representatives expressing your support for raising the age of criminal responsibility to at least fourteen without exception.

Visit the Campaign