Queensland's Controversial New Laws Target Children for Adult Penalties

Wed Dec 17 2025 20:10:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Queensland government enacts tough sentencing laws for children, despite concerns from experts and human rights advocates about their efficacy and potential harm.

Recent legislation in Queensland allows children as young as 10 to face adult-level sentencing for serious crimes, sparking significant criticism from experts, human rights organizations, and lawmakers alike, who argue that such measures may not effectively address youth crime.

Queensland has recently passed controversial legislation allowing children as young as 10 to receive the same penalties as adults for serious crimes, including murder and assault. The government supports the new laws as a necessary response to public concern over youth crime, with Premier David Crisafulli stating that the measures prioritize victims' rights. Yet, experts argue that evidence suggests harsher sentencing does not deter youth offenders and may lead to increased recidivism.

According to studies, youth crime rates in Queensland have declined dramatically over the last 14 years, contradicting claims of a crime wave that prompted the new legislation. Data indicates that youth crime hit a historic low in 2022, raising questions about the necessity of such severe measures. Furthermore, the United Nations has condemned the reforms as violating children's human rights and international law.

Dubbed "adult crime, adult time," the new laws encompass 13 offenses subject to stringent penalties, including mandatory life sentences for murder. Previously, youths could face a maximum of 10 years for such charges, with life imprisonment reserved for the most egregious cases. The legislation eliminates provisions promoting non-custodial punishments for children, which could lead to increased incarceration rates, particularly among Indigenous youth, who already face disproportionate impacts from the justice system.

Despite assurances from Queensland's new Attorney-General Deb Frecklington that the laws will help courts handle repeated offending patterns, concerns about their alignment with international standards persist. Critics, including Australia's commissioner for children, Anne Hollonds, have labeled the changes an "international embarrassment" and an infringement of human rights, emphasizing the detrimental effects on the most vulnerable children.

Legal experts warn that the legislation might lead to unintended consequences for victims, as tougher sentences could deter juvenile offenders from pleading guilty, resulting in prolonged trials. As the community grapples with these significant shifts in juvenile justice policy, the ramifications of the new laws remain to be seen in Queensland's legal landscape.