To Victoria, where the state government has appointed an expert panel to create better safety nets for at-risk youths as part of its move to raise the age of criminal responsibility.
The Victorian government in April committed to lifting the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years by the end of next year, before raising it again to 14 by 2027 with some exceptions.
The second stage of the changes is subject to the development of alternative early interventions and rehabilitative supports, which will be steered by an independent review panel.
Victorian Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn.Credit: Diego Fedele
Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn today announced former deputy commissioner of Victoria’s royal commission into family violence Patricia Faulkner as chair of the panel.
The Victorian government is set to introduce legislation to raise the age from 10 to 12 early next year.
The age of criminal responsibility remains 10 in all other Australian states and territories except the Northern Territory, which raised it to 12 in August.
The ACT and Tasmanian governments have pledged to raise it to 14, in line with the advice from United Nations, child welfare groups, medical experts, human rights lawyers and Indigenous advocates.
AAP
On a lighter topic, the speculation game for who will replace Eddie Jones as coach of the Australian rugby team is well and truly on.
Jones is leaving his second stint as coach of the Wallabies after only 10 months, during which time the team crashed out of the World Cup in the first round for the first time in history.
Read Jonathan Drennan about who the candidates are to replace him.
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