“White promises can disappear, just like writing in the sand.”

Today Premier Jacinta Allan announced that the government has reneged on specific and solid promises to raise the age to 14 years old by 2027. It’s clear, by this example of weak leadership and regressive decision making by the Victorian Government that they write their promises in the sand. 

The Victorian Government has caved to a scare campaign run by the Herald Sun and Victoria Police – who have manipulated data to manufacture fear about crime when it remains at historically low levels.

Aboriginal communities have long campaigned for raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 years old so that our children can grow up connected to culture and community and access the supports they need to build a better life.

VALS regularly holds and participates in community forums and raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility continues to be an issue that they raise as a top priority.

Aboriginal children are targeted by racist policing and courts. The Victorian Government’s decision to abandon this reform means she has chosen to continue to subject our children to the trauma of racist and violent policing.

VALS, along with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, have worked on the Youth Justice Bill with Government for over 5 years. To have a crucial reform gutted from the Bill at the very last minute and without consulting us is truly shameful.

Many of the Ministers that made this decision have appeared at Yoorrook, apologised for the racist policies of the past and promised to do better. On this decision, they failed to keep that promise.

This Victorian Government once lauded itself as the most progressive in the country. It can no longer claim to be progressive at all.

We are also very concerned that the Youth Justice Bill expands the use of isolation in youth prisons. We are monitoring the rising use of lockdowns and isolation due to staff shortages in youth prisons. The Victorian Government should be looking to end isolation, not increase it.

We hope that the Parliament will reconsider these issues when debate continues. We also hope that they ban the use of isolation and routine strip searches in youth prison and strengthen the diversion provisions by removing exclusions and police discretion.

While we want the Youth Justice Bill to pass Parliament because of several important reforms, the Victorian Government cannot claim the Bill as a success. It is now a Bill without any guiding light or values. It represents a government without a soul trying to buy off everyone and pleasing no one. Its emblematic of a government that does not know its own mind and does not trust its own decisions.

Victoria would be better for everyone if the Victorian Government and Parliament spent more time investing in the things that make our community stronger. Programs like Balit Ngulu, VALS’ dedicated holistic legal service for Aboriginal children, need more funding.

Quotes Attributable to Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service:

“We trusted the Victorian Government and we have been betrayed by their treacherous decision to abandon our children.”

“Today Cabinet made a heartless decision to cast aside the best interests of vulnerable children. Many of these politicians are parents themselves but their children will never be subjected to racist policing, never be denied access to the supports they need, and never be thrown away. I wonder if they could have made this needless decision if it was likely to impact their children.”

“We must have spent hundreds of hours helping the Victorian Government develop the Youth Justice Bill. It’s devastating to see so little left after the Victorian Government first abandoned bail reforms for children and has now abandoned raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility.”

“It’s obvious that the Victorian Government has caved to a scare campaign from Victoria Police and the Herald Sun. Neither of them will reward the government for bending the knee.”

“It will be very hard for Aboriginal communities to trust this Government now that we know she will ditch their commitments.”

“This legislation is just one piece of the puzzle. It will not achieve much if it is not supported by investing in the services children and communities need – services like Balit Ngulu, Victoria’s only dedicated legal service for Aboriginal children.”

Quotes Attributable to Dr Crystal McKinnon, Chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service:

“VALS has been fighting to protect our community from the racist, colonial legal system for over 50 years and we will continue the struggle.”

“This is a terrible decision by the Victorian Cabinet. The status quo won’t help the government reach the many commitments they have made through Closing the Gap, the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and Yoorrook.”

“At Yoorrook we heard heart wrenching accounts from young Aboriginal people who have experienced cruel police and prison practices. We all owe it to them to ensure that their efforts result in transformation of these systems.”