Victorian opposition pledges to expand Adult Crime, Adult Time laws

The Victorian opposition is pushing to expand its "Adult Crime, Adult Time" laws, proposing to include offenses like car theft and attempted carjacking if they win the upcoming state election. These laws, enacted last December, already mandate adult sentences for individuals aged 14 and older who commit serious crimes such as aggravated home invasion and carjacking.

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Under Labor, serious youth offenders are getting off because they only half finish their crime and despite a record number of car thefts, youth criminals are being treated with kid gloves.

The opposition's proposal would add five more offenses to the existing legislation, including theft of a motor vehicle (up to 10 years imprisonment), attempted carjacking (up to 10 years), attempted aggravated carjacking (up to 25 years), violent disorder (up to 15 years), and reckless conduct endangering life (up to 10 years). Shadow Attorney-General James Newbury stated that the expansion is a "key part" of their crime policy, asserting that "if you commit an adult crime, you should do adult time."

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A Liberal and Nationals Government will ensure youth offenders who commit these crimes are treated like adults, because if you commit an adult crime, you should do adult time.

Newbury criticized the current Labor government's approach, claiming that "serious youth offenders are getting off" and that "youth criminals are being treated with kid gloves" despite a record number of car thefts. He emphasized that their plan would eliminate excuses for 25 serious crimes, ensuring offenders receive the punishment the community expects.

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Unlike Labor's weak laws, our plan means that for 25 serious crimes, there will be no more excuses and offenders will receive the punishment the community expects.

However, the "Adult Crime, Adult Time" laws have faced opposition from legal groups who argue they infringe on children's rights and could exacerbate Victoria's crime crisis. The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission previously stated that treating children as adults contradicts established evidence on child development and may disproportionately affect First Peoples, racialized communities, and children with mental health issues, who are already overrepresented in detention centers.

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These changes are unlikely to reduce crime in the long term but are likely to have a significant impact on First Peoples, racialised communities and children with mental health issues who are already overly represented in our detention centres.