40049 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

40049 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: Further to Written Parliamentary Question 19640 (2024), what is the rationale, if any, for the difference between the measure of serious and persistent offending behaviour to be used for the Government target of reduced child and youth offending, and the criteria for the proposed Young Serious Offender category in the Youth Court?

Hon Karen Chhour: The Government target for youth offending uses a different definition of serious and persistent offending behaviour because it is intended to capture a broad range of offending behaviour, and reflect the range of responses available within the youth justice system for responding to this. Measures to achieve this target will need to include a range of operational and legislative responses to offending, and be appropriate and effective for both children and young people aged between 10 and 17 years. The Young Serious Offender declaration is one of the measures that will contribute towards achieving the target. It will respond to proven offending by a small cohort of young people aged 14-17 years who seriously and persistently offend where previous interventions have failed, and they are likely to reoffend. The Young Serious Offender declaration will have specific legal consequences unlocking enhanced Youth Court and Police powers to respond to the young person’s offending behaviour. As such, it is appropriately targeted to those circumstances.