Victoria to Raise Criminal Responsibility Age to 12 in Historic Reform

The Victorian government said the new bill would improve community safety while reducing young people’s offending.

A policeman guards a crime scene in Sydney, Australia, on July 6, 2018. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

The Victorian government has introduced a new bill to the state parliament to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.

If passed, Victoria will become the first Australian state to enforce a higher age threshold for criminal offences.