ACTs abrupt turn on the youth justice age has been described as cynical, a backward step and exploiting fear.
The party wants 17 year old offenders put back into the adult court system, reversing a policy championed by the last National led government, and legislation ACT supported at the time.
Currently, 17 year olds who commit serious offences like murder and sexual assaults can still be dealt with by the adult court. But ACT now believes dropping the age was a mistake, and that at 17, offenders are old enough to be aware of the consequences of breaking the law, and should be held account .
ACT Party leader, David Seymour, spoke to Lisa Owen.
