Government urged to get a move on with youth court review

Youth law advocates & academics are calling on the government to move ahead swiftly to raise the youth court age to 18. Cabinet is considering a plan for offenders up to 19 in certain circumstances to be dealt with by the Youth Court, rather than adult courts. This is one of a number of recommendations being considered by Cabinet as part of a review of how children and young people are dealt with by government agencies. The Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says it'll be July before Cabinet considers the issue. Victoria University Senior Law Lecturer, Dr Nessa Lynch, says the change would keep thousands of young people out of the adult court system.