Catherine Liddle responds to NT Government’s age of criminal responsibility decision – SNAICC in the News

Article: Peak Indigenous children’s body decries NT government’s age of criminal responsibility pledge. National Indigenous Times (published 27 August)

Excerpt:

Ms Liddle said many of the children who are coming into contact with child detention centres are some of the most vulnerable in the country.
“These are not children that have food to eat at night,” she said.
“These are not children that know they’ve got shoes to put on. These are not children who have really safe beds to sleep in.
“These are children that are doing it really, really tough. So when they come into those detention centres, when they come into contact with the juvenile justice system, the outcomes are not good.”

Article – The NT Is Lowering The Age Of Criminal Responsibility Back To 10 Years Old. Pedestrian (Published 27 August)

Excerpt:

Federal president of the Australian Medical Association, Professor Steve Robson told ABC News that the law change was “an outrage”.
“Incarcerating young children — and these are just young children in prison conditions in the Northern Territory — is frankly an outrage. It has an incredibly bad effect on their health, their mental health and their future. Young children should not be in prison.”
Catherine Liddle, the CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Straight advocacy group SNAICC – The National Voice For Our Children echoed his sentiments.
“No one is saying that no one should be accountable for their actions. What we’re saying is, what level of accountability do you hold when you’re aged 10 and you still have your baby teeth? Do you truly understand the impact of your actions?”
“At 10, you are just a child. The evidence had long shown, and again it was a royal commission that unearthed it in the Northern Territory, that the conditions in detention centres were absolutely inhumane.”

News Story: Lowering criminal responsibility age will hurt children. ABC’s AM (Broadcast 27 August)

Excerpt:

Catherine Liddle is the CEO of SNAICC, a non-government organisation representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, who will be disproportionately impacted by the proposal.
Catherine Liddle: No one is saying that no one should be accountable for their actions. What we’re saying is, what level of accountability do you hold when you’re aged 10 and you still have your baby teeth? Do you truly understand the impact of the actions?

Article: Community-led program ensuring First Nations children are school-ready. Education Daily (Published 28 August)

Excerpt:

Through the program, Liddie says the Three Rivers Regional Assembly Aboriginal Corporation will create initiatives that improve access to existing early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services so children are safe, healthy and ready to thrive in Dubbo.
“Existing sites have also seen an increase in the number of children on track in all five Australian early development census domains,” says Liddie.
“It’s an excellent example of what can be achieved when you listen and involve community. At existing Connected Beginnings sites, the average attendance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in centre-based care has increased by more than 10 per cent.”

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