Victoria’s ‘adult time’ for children has no place in a civilised society

“The courts will treat these children as adults.” These words Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced her state has joined Queensland in reintroducing sentencing as society’s instinctive response to juvenile crime.

Let’s take a moment and think about these perfectly chosen words: Treat these kids like adults. Like the Queensland government’s mantra of “adult crime, adult time”, this recognition is available to anyone willing to recognize it.

Children are not adults, which is the point to work on.