The Australian state of Queensland has implemented controversial new legislation that allows children as young as 10 to receive adult sentences for serious crimes, including murder, serious assault, and burglary. The state's government argues that these stricter penalties respond to heightened community concern regarding youth crime and will serve as a deterrent. Premier David Crisafulli emphasized the laws as prioritizing the needs of victims over those of criminals, dubbing them "adult crime, adult time."
However, experts and research highlight that evidence tends to suggest tougher sentencing does not effectively reduce youth crime rates and may, in fact, exacerbate criminal behavior among young offenders. This sentiment is echoed by the United Nations, which has criticized the reforms for disregarding children's human rights and violating international treaties.
The newly passed laws, promoted during the recent election by the Liberal National Party (LNP), list 13 offenses subject to these harsher sentences. Among these, murder convictions now carry a mandatory life sentence with a non-parole period of 20 years—significantly stricter than the previous maximum of 10 years, which only allowed life sentences for particularly heinous cases. Furthermore, the legislation removes provisions that favored non-custodial sentences for children, allowing judges to consider a child's entire criminal history during sentencing.
Supporters of the new laws, including the Queensland Police Union and Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, argue they enable a more efficient response to patterns of juvenile offending. However, Frecklington also acknowledged that the changes conflict with international standards and may disproportionately affect Indigenous children. Critics express concern that the new framework is likely to lead to increased detention periods for children as existing facilities are already overwhelmed.
Anne Hollonds, Australia’s Commissioner for Children, condemned the new measures as an "international embarrassment," suggesting that involving younger children in the judicial system increases the likelihood of repeat offenses. Experts who provided testimony during last week's parliamentary hearing warned that harsher sentences may discourage children from pleading guilty, resulting in more prolonged trials and overburdened court systems.
As Queensland navigates its response to youth crime, the implications of this legislation continue to unfold, drawing scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
