Queensland Law Changes to Prosecute Children as Adults Prompt Controversy

Wed Dec 17 2025 20:02:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Australian state of Queensland implements new laws allowing children from age 10 to face adult penalties for serious crimes, stirring debate around their effectiveness and ethical implications.

Queensland's new legislation, dubbed "adult crime, adult time," allows children as young as 10 to be subjected to adult prison sentences for serious offenses. While the government argues this is a necessary deterrent to youth crime, experts and organizations like the UN warn that harsher penalties may not effectively reduce crime and could worsen the situation for vulnerable youth.

Queensland's government has enacted groundbreaking laws that will hold children as young as 10 accountable in the same manner as adults for severe offenses including murder and serious assaults. These regulations, referred to as "adult crime, adult time," have emerged in response to heightened community concern regarding youth crime. Premier David Crisafulli emphasized that these laws prioritize victims' rights over those of offenders.

The new sentencing guidelines introduce stricter penalties, such as life imprisonment for murder, significantly increasing the previous maximum penalty. Critics, including numerous legal experts and organizations such as the United Nations, argue that research shows stricter sentencing does not effectively diminish youth crime rates; rather, it can escalate the problem. Moreover, concerns have been raised about potential racial disparities, particularly impacting Indigenous children who already face increased rates of detention in Queensland compared to other Australian territories.

Current statistics reveal that youth crime has actually declined by 50% over the past 14 years, contradicting the government's rationale for introducing these measures. The legislative change removes provisions aimed at prioritizing non-custodial sentences for young offenders, thereby broadening the scope for judges to consider a child's full criminal history during sentencing.

While the Police Union has praised the reforms and various officials defend the changes as necessary, critics argue that they both contravene international law and undermine the long-term rehabilitation of youth. The Queensland commissioner for children described the revisions as detrimental and potentially harmful, as they focus on the most vulnerable children within the community.

Supporters of the law, however, maintain that such changes are vital to instilling accountability among young offenders. Premier Crisafulli acknowledged varying opinions and indicated a commitment to addressing subsequent pressure in the justice system, assuring the implementation of additional facilities to support youth rehabilitation in the future.