The cabinet has adopted an “adult time for violent crime” approach — similar to what has been rolled out in Queensland — with proposed legislation to raise jail sentences in the Children’s Court way above the current three-year maximum.
It would also see kids aged 14 and over charged with aggravated home invasion intentionally or recklessly causing injury in circumstances of gross violence, carjacking and serious and repeat aggravated burglary and armed robbery tried and sentenced in the County Court.
They would also face sentences of up to 20 years for intentionally causing serious injury through gross violence and 25 years for aggravated home invasion.
Penalties for aggravated home invasions and carjackings will increase from 25 years to life imprisonment, under the Labor government’s plan set to be announced on Wednesday.
“We want the courts to treat these violent children like adults, so jail is more likely and sentences are longer,” Premier Jacinta Allan said, according to media reports.
“Adult time for violent crime will mean more violent youth offenders going to jail, facing serious consequences.
“I’m listening to the victims of these horrific attacks, and I’ll do whatever we need to keep people safe.”
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said: “there are no easy solutions to youth crime and the best approach is always to stop crime before it starts”.
“But we absolutely need serious consequences for violent youth crime to protect the community now,” she said.
It comes as huge pressure has mounted on the government to act after a wave of violent robberies, bashings and stabbings has rocked Melbourne to its core.
News.com.au’s reporting has highlighted the frustration and fear of Melburnians who have seen the kids who burgled their homes and cars released on bail only to do it again.
Some of the recent incidents that have shaken the city include a Kew father being slashed 11 times with a machete during a home invasion in August.
A month earlier, a 60-year-old man in Gladstone Park was allegedly bashed with a hammer, stabbed multiple times and shot in the arm in another burglary.
There have been multiple brawls featuring teens armed with machetes at suburban shopping centres, including one at Broadmeadows filmed in point-of-view style by one of the thugs.
The alleged double murder of Cobblebank boys Dau Akueng and Chol Achieck in September caused outrage across the country, and supercharged focus on knife crimes.
And last week a court heard Melbourne GP Ash Gordon was fatally stabbed by the teenage son of a Victoria Police investigator in January 2024, as he chased a pack of robbers from his home.
Data from the Crime Statistics Agency, released in September, showed 638,640 criminal offences were recorded in the 12 months to June – up 86,587 offences or 15.7 per cent.
Young offenders were significantly over-represented in serious and violent crimes, accounting for 66.2 per cent of robberies, 47.7 per cent of aggravated burglaries and 26.4 per cent of car theft. That was despite making up just 12.8 per cent of all offenders.
Victoria Police said the data showed 1128 child offenders, aged 10–17, were arrested a combined 7118 times, with total arrests increasing by 26.7 per cent.
“There were 149 less child offenders in the reporting period, indicating that repeat offenders are driving the arrest numbers,” the agency said.
Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations, Bob Hill, said at the time that crime in Victoria was at “unacceptable” levels.
“As a society, we simply cannot allow the level of crime we are seeing to become normalised and accepted – every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their home, within the community and on the roads,” he said.
“Victoria Police is tackling these issues head-on. Our members are doing exceptional work to resolve these crimes.
“But it must be said – the number of arrests we are seeing reflects an unacceptable level of offending.”
Responding to Wednesday’s announcement, the head of Save the Children’s Australian service arm 54 Reasons Vicki Mau called it “bitterly disappointing” and a violation of child rights.
“Time and time again human rights, medical and legal experts have told politicians that what will make communities safer is investing in and prioritising early intervention measures that address the root causes of offending,” she said.
“And yet Victoria is ignoring that advice and regrettably following the path of other states and territories in pursuing punitive measures rather than evidence-backed responses to youth justice.”
Melbourne lawyer Bill Doogue also told the Today show he disagreed with the government’s course of action, saying locking up young people would lead to more serious mental illness and criminality.
“So all you’re doing is making our community less safe in the long term,” he said.
The government’s new policy mirrors the current Queensland government’s “adult crime, adult time” election pitch, which helped Premier David Crisafulli sweep to power in 2024.
The first-of-their-kind laws have come into effect, meaning children as young as 10 face adult penalties for 33 serious crimes including murder, rape and arson.
Young offenders who previously faced a maximum 10-year jail term for murder now face mandatory life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 years.
Mr Crisafulli released a statement in October declaring that victim numbers in Queensland are down 10.8 per cent per capita this year.
Citing Queensland Police data, he said the number of victims of stolen cars dropped 15.6 per cent, break-ins 21.2 per cent and robberies 12.6 per cent over the first nine months of 2025, compared with the same period last year and based on population.
“Queenslanders demanded a fresh start and safer communities, and that’s exactly what we are delivering,” the Premier said in October.
“Adult Crime, Adult Time is making Queensland safer by holding serious repeat offenders accountable, which means fewer people are having their homes broken-into, their livelihoods stolen, and their families harmed.”
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