Government abandons promise to raise age of criminal responsibility to 14

Premier Jacinta Allan has abandoned a promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 as the Victorian government bows to community concerns about rising youth crime.

She announced the backflip on Tuesday, which will incense Aboriginal and human rights groups, along with a swathe of amendments to the government’s youth justice bill that is already before the parliament.

Allan has over the last few days repeatedly refused to say whether she remained committed to lifting the minimum age to 14 by 2027.

Currently, children as young as 10 can be arrested, charged and jailed in juvenile detention, but the bill before parliament will lift the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12.