Victoria’s proposed laws to allow children as young as 14 to be sentenced as adults have been condemned by human rights, Indigenous and legal experts, advocacy groups and experts. The Allan Labor government announced it would adopt “adult time for violent crime” laws, mirroring Queensland’s approach.
Under the changes, children aged 14 and over who commit violent crimes such as home invasion, aggravated carjacking or causing injury would be tried in the county court and face adult sentencing, including possible life terms. The principle of jail as a last resort would be removed, and judges would prioritise community safety.
Premier Jacinta Allan said there were “too many victims and not enough consequences”, noting about one-third of youths in the children’s court were sentenced for aggravated home invasion or carjacking. The laws will be introduced to parliament before the end of 2025.
Opposition leader Brad Battin accused the government of copying Queensland without proper context. Queensland’s laws, introduced after high-profile crimes including the murder of Emma Lovell and Vyleen White, have been expanded to cover 33 serious offences.
Monique Hurley of the Human Rights Law Centre called it an “alarming race to the bottom”, while the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service’s Nerita Waight said the state was “signing kids’ lives away”. Advocacy groups warned the punitive response would condemn youth offenders to life behind bars.
