Jacinta Allan’s backdown on raising the age of criminal responsibility explained

Premier Jacinta Allan has dumped a plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14, walking away from the reform championed by Daniel Andrews. Here’s what you need to know about the decision.

Premier Jacinta Allan has backed down on a plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

The announcement backflips on a youth justice plan originally rolled out by her predecessor Daniel Andrews.

Here’s how we got here.

What was the original proposal for raising the age?

The Andrews government announced in April 2023 it would become the first state to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 years old to 12, and then to 14 years old by 2027.

It planned to include a range of carve out offences, which would have likely included murder and terrorism crimes, for children aged between 12 and 14.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews pushed raising the age of criminal responsibility. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

What prompted it?

The government has faced repeated calls from legal experts and community groups who have campaigned against Victoria’s existing regime they say is at odds with expert medical advice, and lags behind international standards.

What was announced this morning?

On Tuesday Jacinta Allan said the government had scrapped plans to raise the age to 14.

It will however continue with its commitment to raise the age to 12.

Youth crime in Victoria has spiked. Picture: Supplied

Why has the government backflipped on this now?

A spate of fatal youth crimes and an increase in the number of offences committed by young Victorians have forced the government to act.

Is it a done deal?

Legislation to raise the age to 12 forms part of the government’s Youth Justice Bill which has passed the lower house and is currently before the upper house.

While it is not supported by the opposition, who say they age of criminal responsibility should be kept at 10, the government is likely to get the support of enough crossbench MPs to pass the laws.