NSW: Discussion paper on criminal responsibility of children

AAP General News (Australia)
01-10-2000
NSW: Discussion paper on criminal responsibility of children

By Linda Silmalis

SYDNEY, Jan 10 AAP - Children as young as 12 will be expected to know that criminal
conduct is wrong under law reforms being discussed by the New South Wales government.

A law review paper said there was evidence children today were more sophisticated than
their counterparts 100 years ago, prompting a push for the age of criminal responsibility
to be lowered.

The National Children and Youth Law Centre opposes such a move and said the argument was flawed.

Under existing laws, courts presume children …