1 July 2025
Life Without Barriers welcomes the news the ACT Government is raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 14 years of age as it calls for other states and territories to follow suit.
The ACT Government has become the first Australian jurisdiction to raise the age at which a child can be held responsible for a crime to 14.
These changes are in line with recommendations from some of Australia’s most respected medical and legal bodies, backed by research that shows exposing young children to the criminal justice system can be harmful and lead to a cycle of crime.
Tabatha Feher, Life Without Barriers’ Chief Advisor of Public Affairs and Advocacy, welcomes the changes that show that the ACT Government has listened and heeded the advice of legal experts, policymakers and health and children’s advocates.
“This is a wonderful milestone and an important first step in our mission to raise the age of criminal responsibility for children living right across Australia,” Ms Feher said.
“Numerous studies prove children’s cognitive and emotional development hasn’t matured anywhere near enough by age 13 to make rational decisions to a degree that renders them culpable for a crime under current Australian legislation.
“Exposing them to the criminal justice system entrenches crime and tends to disproportionately impact First Nations families.”
Rather than being charged, young children will receive developmentally and culturally appropriate therapeutic support to help address the causes of their offending and to understand the impact of their actions.
“These changes reflect evidence-based best practice and show that we don’t have to make a choice between community safety and children,” Ms Feher said.
“The ACT is leading the way, and we hope that other states and territories soon follow in those footsteps.”
Life Without Barriers, which brings decades of expertise and experience working with young people, joins national and international calls to raise the age of criminal responsibility in all Australian states and territories from 10 to 14 years of age.
For comment, contact: media@lwb.org.au
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