Like many other organisations, GPV/KCV has in the past urged the Victorian Government to raise they age of criminal responsibility to 14 years of age. In doing so we are mindful of the reasons why it is inappropriate to assume that the child brain is responsible in the same way as an adult brain. We have never argued that children who commit crimes should not face consequences. Rather, we argue that the consequences need to be appropriate to their young age and designed to divert them away from future offending. Further, we are embarrassed by the fact that we now lag way behind so many other countries in the world who have lifted the age of criminal responsibility.

The Victorian Government has asked us to carry a heavy burden of collective shame and embarrassment on this matter.