7am Why Victoria's youth crime laws won't work
Nov 17, 2025
Nerita Waight, the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and a Yorta Yorta and Narangiri woman, delves into the implications of new youth justice laws allowing 14-year-olds to face adult trials. She highlights the disproportionate impact on Aboriginal children, emphasizing increased imprisonment and loss of specialized protections. Nerita advocates for a rights-based approach focusing on prevention and health rather than punishment. She also reflects on how these reforms erode trust in government commitments to Treaty, illustrating her points with a powerful case study.
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Rushed Shift To Adult Sentencing
- Victoria's government rushed laws to try 14–17 year olds as adults and allow life sentences for certain violent offences.
- Nerita Waight warns this reverses promises to raise the age of criminal responsibility and risks devastating vulnerable children.
Court Shift Dramatically Raises Jail Odds
- The reforms would move 14–17 year olds accused of aggravated burglary or carjacking into county court with adult sentencing norms.
- Nerita Waight notes Children's Court sends 34% to jail for these crimes versus 97% in county courts, massively increasing imprisonment.
Reforms Disproportionately Hit Aboriginal Youth
- Two-thirds of Balit Nilu's Aboriginal child clients would be affected, many with disability, trauma, removal from family, coercion or poverty.
- Waight argues these children lack stability and supports, so punitive responses entrench offending cycles and increase Aboriginal imprisonment.