Many children involved in the criminal justice system are victims of inequality and disadvantage; they often have complex problems in areas of mental health, physical health, disability, poverty, insecure housing, abuse, and neglect. 

The petition seeks to end the perpetuation of disadvantage and to assure children are rehabilitated within their families and communities and not locked in prison. 

Representatives from Change the Record, human rights, legal and First Nations-led organisations handed over 200,000 thousand signatures to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney.

Mr Dreyfus and Ms Burney reiterated the government’s commitment to work with states and territories to keep very young children out of the criminal legal system. 

Raising the minimum age from 10 to at least 14 is an immediate action that governments can take to give children a brighter future, stated Nick Espie from the Human Rights Law Centre. 

“Today we delivered the clear message from hundreds of thousands of Australians who want to see children looked after in our communities, homes and schools — not sent to prison,” said Cheryl Axleby, co-chair of Change the Record.

“We are calling on every state and territory government to heed the medical, legal and child development experts who have been crystal clear: no child under the age of 14 years old should be arrested, hauled before a court or convicted of a criminal offence.

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“We thank the Attorney General and Minister for Indigenous Australians for accepting our petition and for their commitment to #RaiseTheAge.” 

Last year, the Australian government pledged to raise the age of criminal responsibility. Maggie Munn from Amnesty International Australia voiced her concerns that governments are delaying too long in taking action on the issue. 

She said: “200,000 people have spoken, they’ve taken action and they’re angry that it’s taking this long.

“It’s time to raise the age, it’s time for the federal and state and territory governments to act on their constituents’ demands on the evidence that’s on their desks, and we will hold them accountable.”

“Raising the minimum age from 10 to 14 is the absolute least that governments can do to implement their commitment to First Nations people and justice in this country,” stated Ms Munn. 

“Our children deserve better, and we will keep fighting until they get it.”

Priscilla Atkins, chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, commented on the impact childhood imprisonment is having on First Nations children. 

“Our children are disproportionately impacted by these laws, and we encourage other states and territories to condemn this practice,” said Ms Atkins.

“When children are in prison, the government has failed.”

“The national and international support has been clear, and this is one action that the Australian government can take that may have a generational impact for our children,” Ms Atkins stated. 

“No child belongs in prison,” stated Mr Espie. 

“Over 200,000 Australians have spoken in favour of the urgent need to raise the age, and it is time for the Attorney General and Minister for Indigenous Australians to listen,” said Mr Espie. 

“We call on all Attorneys-General to take action now and end the injustice of locking up children, so every child has the chance to succeed.”

State and territory petition signatories will be handed over to state and territory Attorneys-General and members of parliament over the coming weeks.