Advocates are calling for a government report into raising the age of criminal responsibility they claim has been hidden for more than two years to be released.
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Raising the age of criminal responsibility will be on the agenda when Australia's attorneys-general meet later this week, with a national alliance demanding it be lifted to at least 14 years old, up from 10.
The National Raise the Age Alliance say a 2020 report with state, territory and commonwealth input recommended the age be lifted to 14, but authorities have buried the findings including "repeated" freedom of information requests.
"For over two years, attorneys-general across the country have been sitting on advice from their own departments the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to at least 14," Human Rights Law Centre's Monique Hurley said.
"Every day our chief law officers refuse to act on this straightforward reform, they are condemning a generation of children to the harm inherent in being locked away behind bars ... the evidence is crystal clear, and it's been sitting on their desks for over two years."
Citing evidence the lower age limit disproportionately impacts Indigenous children, Raise the Age say it could reduce over-representation in prisons and help address Closing the Gap targets.
The Northern Territory recently lifted its age of criminal responsibility to 12.
A spokesperson for the federal attorney-general, who noted Mr Dreyfus had committed to releasing the report at the meeting last month in parliament, said the government was working closely with its partners on the issue.
"The decision by the Northern Territory to raise the age to 12 is evidence of the progress being made," they said.
"This Friday's meeting ... will also receive a progress report from the Age of Criminal Responsibility Working Group.
"This working group is paying particular attention to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the criminal justice system."
Victorian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Meena Singh told the Yoorrook Justice Commission on Monday the reform was long overdue.
"There is so much of that that can be redirected into positive measures that address why a child is offending, and it needs to start with raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14, no exceptions," she said.
The commission is the formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by Aboriginal Victorians, as part of the state's treaty process.
Australian Associated Press
