Victoria finalising new age of criminal responsibility

The Victorian government is finalising its position on raising the age of criminal responsibility, as Indigenous leaders and the Greens press their case for 14 years.

Last week, the Labor government appeared to be leaning toward raising the age to 12 years, from 10 years, at least initially.

A spokesperson did not directly respond to reports it could raise the age again in four years' time to 14 years, saying Labor was finalising its position ahead of a Standing Council of Attorneys-General meeting on Friday.

"We will have more to say on the details of this in due course," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The Victorian Greens back the case for 14 years and want this in place in this term of government, saying raising the age to 12 would be a "timid, politicised" decision that ignored First Nations communities.

"This is something experts and advocates have been calling for for decades, so it beggars belief that the government is kicking this can down the road yet again," Victorian Greens justice spokeswoman Katherine Copsey said.  

"Aboriginal children account for almost 65 per cent of young people behind bars around Australia. 

"To change this, we need strong action, not a timid gesture.

"Twelve-year-olds are still too young for Facebook, so why does the government want to drag them to court and even prison?"

First Peoples' Assembly co-chair Aunty Geraldine Atkinson said she was heartbroken by suggestions the government could delay raising the age to 14.

She was trying to focus on a shift to 12 as an improvement, but it was not a welcome move.

"All the experts say it should be at least 14," Aunty Atkinson, a Bangerang and Wiradjuri elder, said. 

"First Peoples, we've been very consistent in saying it needs to be at least 14. 

"We know too well the damage that is inflicted when our children are removed from community."

The attorneys-general are due to meet in Darwin on Friday after Premier Daniel Andrews earlier this year flagged Victoria could go it alone on the age of criminal responsibility if a national consensus couldn't be reached.

The Northern Territory and ACT governments have committed to raising the age to 12 and 14, respectively, while Tasmania plans to raise the minimum age of detention to 14 but keep criminal responsibility at 10.