Daniel Andrews says Yoorrook policy on under 16 offenders ‘not consistent’ with Victorian policy

Daniel Andrews says a call from an Indigenous body to ban jailing all offenders under the age of 16 is at odds with Victoria’s policy.

Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged that a recommendation to ban detention for children under 16 is at odds with the plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission – an independent body probing laws and policies in Victoria that impact Indigenous Victorians – has called for a ban on jailing all offenders under the age of 16.

Mr Andrews said that while the Yoorrook proposal was inconsistent with Victoria’s plans, his government would look at “each and every one of the recommendations”.

“It’s not consistent with the announcements that the government’s already made in relation so raising the age of criminal responsibility,” he said.

“We did announce two phases to that and the building of an alternative service model.”

Yoorrook Justice Commission members, Kevin Bell AM KC, Sue-Anne Hunter, Professor Eleanor Bourke AM, Travis Lovett and Professor Maggie Walter. Picture: Brianna Young

Mr Andrews announced earlier this year that Victoria will raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 in 2024 and to 14 by 2027.

“Except for the most serious of crimes, sending kids to school to crime school, is not necessarily a very smart thing to do,” he said.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission released its final report on Monday, recommending Victoria adopt a totally separate child protection system for Aboriginal children, and recommended implementing different ways to deal with Aboriginal offenders.

The report set a tight deadline for action calling on the government to implement most of the changes within 12 months.

The Premier said he won’t “sign up” to delivering the recommendations within 12 months, calling the timeline “ambitious”.

Daniel Andrews says a recommendation to ban detention for children under 16 is at odds with Victoria’s policy. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“It’s our intention to get on and deliver against each of the areas that Yoorrook has highlighted, where there is a need for reform,” he said.

“But if you’re asking me do I think that every single one of these things can be delivered within 12 months? I think that’s going to be challenging.”

Mr Andrews said cabinet would work through the recommendations “line by line” before announcing its support for any of the reforms.

“We set the commission up and we’re proud to have done that,” he said.

“We did that in the full and certain knowledge that truth is hard, that that telling this truth and speaking this truth and telling these stories is not easy.”

Mr Andrews said Victoria’s Koori Court was a “stunning” example of successful reforms to the justice system.

“The Koori Court has been a stunning success in keeping Aboriginal people out of jail,” he said.