As of this week, the ACT has become the only state or territory in Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility fully to fourteen, diverting Canberra's children away from the harm of gaol towards critical support services.
This reform was introduced by Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury when he was Attorney General in 2023, and is a clear example of the change that has been achieved with Greens in the balance of power in the Assembly.
As stated by Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury:
"This is a momentous week for young people, advocates for change and the government because as of Tuesday, children under the age of fourteen are no longer being diverted away from the support they need to live a fulfilling life.
"All evidence shows that children come in contact with the criminal justice system because of challenging life circumstances such as complex trauma, poverty, neglect and unaddressed mental or physical health problems.
"The reality is, punishing kids for the hardship they've faced only causes more harm. Because of this, we know that prison is no place for a child. At times of need, young people deserve care, safety, and support, not a jail cell.
"This reform is another clear example of the ACT Parliament, with the Greens in the balance of power, leading the nation with the kind of bold, progressive change we need to create a fairer and more just society.
"In the coming days, the Greens will be closely examining government funding for support services to make sure young people get the help they need to get their lives back on track-and aren't being left to fall through the cracks.
"So far, we're glad to see that vital support services like the Safer Youth Response Service have been funded to expand to 24/7 support so that young people can be diverted away from the criminal justice system at all times.
"However, the Greens have heard some concerns from stakeholders, and
as a result will be investigating in the coming weeks throughout the estimates period, to ensure the government is properly funding essential services
