He argued parents should be held responsible, suggesting alternative consequences for both children and their parents could be working on government projects – such as fixing roads.
Mansfield said the government had to be more open and willing to discussing systemic solutions.
Adele Andrews from Black Rock was also sceptical of the proposed changes, questioning if police, courts or prisons were “adequately resourced” to manage the reforms.
Her home was broken into in March by machete-wielding youths. She was unsure if prison was the best place for children and suggested alternatives like working on farms.
The proposed laws would move children charged with serious offences – such as aggravated home invasion, carjacking, and intentionally or recklessly causing injury in circumstances of gross violence – to adult courts, allowing them to face much longer sentences.
Credit: Matt Golding
Sentences in the Children’s Court are limited to three years for any single offence while adult courts can impose 20 to 25 years for similar crimes.
The proposal would also increase the maximum penalty for aggravated home invasion and carjacking from 25 years to life imprisonment.
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Nerita Waight said the proposed changes would disproportionately affect Aboriginal children.
“Shame on this government, shame on the premier and shame on this cabinet for allowing your leader to push this agenda on our kids,” Waight said.
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“Victoria is a cruel and unforgiving state … it is only a matter of time until we are mourning the loss of a child at the hands of the state.”
Human Rights Law Centre associate legal director Monique Hurley said the Allan government was imitating the Queensland LNP government’s youth justice laws “in an alarming race to the bottom”.
Victoria Legal Aid criminal law executive director Kate Bundrock said it ignored root causes, would increase recidivism and disconnect young people from education and their communities.
Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said the government was moving in the right direction, but warned that the government must not compromise the effectiveness of the reforms to validate “minority views”.
“There will be plenty of stakeholders lining up to tell the government that they’ve got it wrong,” Gatt said.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said it was offensive the government would write a press release and print a corflute when the bill had not even been drafted.
“This highlights the absolute shit the government feeds the community,” he said.
The Allan government has been dogged by a wave of violent youth crime, including the stabbing deaths of 12-year-old Chol Achiek and 15-year-old Dau Akueng, and heavily criticised by the opposition as weak on crime.
