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Northern Territory Government ignores expert advice, and forges ahead with tough on crime agenda

Alison Barrett writes:

The Finocchiaro Government has lowered the age of criminal responsibility in the Northern Territory from 12 years to 10, following the legislation’s approval in Parliament last night.

This is despite calls by Aboriginal health leaders, medical organisations and youth justice advocates for the new Government to reconsider its plans to lower the age, with concerns over the harmful and disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

At the beginning of this week, Donna Ah Chee, CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, said children aged between 10 and 12 years “do not yet have the capacity to be fully responsible for their actions” as their brains are still developing.

“We all want a safe community to live, work and care for our families,” she said, but we will not achieve this by sending children as young as 10 years to prison.

Congress supports the NT Children’s Commissioner Shahleena Musk’s recent calls for evidence-based, non-punitive responses to child and youth offending.

Musk has also spoken out against the reintroduction of spit hoods in youth watch houses, as announced by NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy earlier this week.

“The use of spit hoods creates a large risk of injury or death to the wearer, with spit hoods implicated in numerous deaths in custody,” Musk told SBS News.

Aboriginal health and justice groups, and the wider health, legal and human rights sectors have long campaigned for the age of criminal responsibility to be lifted to at least 14, in line with evidence and global recommendations.

Tweet by @DorrasWalkerBigger agenda

The Country Liberal Party Government, led by Lia Finocchiaro, has also passed new ram raid and post and boast laws.

Under the new ram raid legislation, police will be able to charge offenders who have stolen a vehicle and used it as a weapon to damage property or gain entry to a building, with this “brand-new offence which attracts up to 10 years behind bars”, the NT Government said in a statement.

The post and boast law will apply to any person who “promotes a certain crime or criminal activity, such as violent offences, property damage, theft, stealing a motor vehicle, police pursuits and robbery, on social media platforms, including sharing criminal activity online, for the purpose of notoriety”.

Declan’s Law, which includes Bail Legislation Amendment Bill and Police Administration Amendment Bill 2024, was passed in Parliament on Wednesday night.

Under Declan’s Law, there will be a presumption against bail for youth (10–17-year-old) and adult serious violent offenders, breach of bail will become an offence for all, and electronic monitoring will be mandatory for the few repeat serious offenders who are still granted bail.

The laws will also give police more powers to scan for weapons, known as ‘wanding’.

Other “tough on crime” bills introduced in the new Government’s first week of parliament, yet to be legislated, include:

  • laws to allow police to issue heavy fines, arrest and charge individuals for public drinking, which are stronger penalties than the current search and seize law
  • minimum mandatory sentences for assaults against Territory workers, with tougher penalties for assaults against frontline workers including police and emergency personnel.

Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley said last night in a statement: “We make no apologies for delivering the laws Territorians voted for in the August election.”

The developments in the NT are a reminder of what is at stake with the upcoming Queensland election, where Opposition leader David Crisafulli, who is expected to be elected, has campaigned with a strong “tough on crime” agenda.

Alternatives to incarcerating young people

With evidence showing that incarcerating children leads to poor physical and mental health, and a cycle of recidivism, Ah Chee said solutions that are focused on prevention, diversion and rehabilitation are required.

Evidence-based solutions include secure, therapeutic care focusing on rehabilitation, as well as strengthening families to take responsibility for their children, she said.

Musk told the ABC that addressing the root causes for youth crime including education, appropriate support to help with trauma and disability needs are “things that work”.

Once they end up in the justice system, “it’s too late”, she said.

These sentiments were echoed at the 2024 Barton Pope Lecture – titled Raising the age of criminal responsibility: debunking myths, exploring facts and how do we address the needs of young people and the community? – hosted by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists SA Branch this week.

The event’s moderator, Dr Marshall Watson, descendent of the Noongar People of southwest Western Australia and a child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist, said offending behaviours need to be treated as a health and wellbeing issue.

“These kids aren’t bad. They have unmet need and…we have to take a step back and actually look at things for what they actually are,” Watson said.

He said that services and support for young people need to be developed appropriately, culturally-led, trauma-informed, accessible, and multi-disciplinary.

Addressing social determinants including education, housing and unstable living environments is also important.

“Young people who commit crimes come from backgrounds of trauma, disadvantage and their actions need to be appreciated in the context of distress, rather than pure criminal intent,” Watson said.

Dr Marshall Watson. Photo by Alison Barrett

Ashum Owen, a Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri and Narungga woman, and CEO of Wakwakurna Kanyini, the new peak body for Aboriginal children and families in South Australia, called for more investment in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to “undertake the work required in early intervention and prevention for youth at risk”.

Aboriginal people have the solutions, Owen said.

“By raising the age, decolonising and reinvesting, we enable connections to family, community, culture and spirit and country. We empower Aboriginal children to develop a strong sense of identity, who they are and where they belong.

“We give Aboriginal children a voice. We support families.”

Ashum Owen. Photo by Alison Barrett

Barrister Marie Shaw KC said young people “should not become part of the criminal justice system”, as once they are, 80 percent will remain in the system.

Shaw helped set up the Ice Factor program at Thebarton Ice Arena, on Kaurna Land, in 2005 to engage at risk children in a safe and supportive environment. In 2017, she supported the establishment of the Kaurna Boomerangs, Australia’s first Indigenous ice hockey team.

Shaw said Scotland recently set a good example of diversionary programs and decriminalising youth, where people under 18 are sent to a youth care diversionary facility – that is not a jail – and taught tactics for dealing with stress and life pressures. As of 2023, there are no inmates under 18 in Scottish prisons.

Marie Shaw KC. Photo by Alison Barrett

Shona Reid, Eastern Arrernte woman and South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People, said it is important to ask children’s perspectives on the minimum age of criminal responsibility, which after speaking with 27 young people in detention, she said, “is not hard” to do.

“Children have their perspectives. They have their views, whether we like it or not. It is our job to represent them,” she said.

Reid has published a report with her findings, full of unfiltered, confronting and direct quotes about the experiences and scenarios of young people in detention.

In the report’s introduction, Reid says, which is relevant to all children and young people:

“Let’s face it, it is all of South Australia’s children and young people who will bear the consequences of the decisions that we make today.

“So, let’s take the time to respectfully and meaningfully hear…from those who know.”

Shona Reid, with a quote from her report. Photo by Alison Barrett

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