Our Opinion
Is this the Australia we want? Reactions to UN review of raising age of criminal responsibility
The graphic above illustrates just a few of the comments posted on PeakCare’s Facebook page in response to our recent eNews article, ‘Australia shamed by trip to UN’. Click here to view a sample of the hundreds of comments that were posted, grouped under the themes of:
- On lowering the age of criminal responsibility and the need for harsher punishments
- On children and parents
- On gender re-assignment
- On Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- On the United Nations and the countries that recommended raising the age of criminal responsibility
- On the Australian organisations that support ‘raising the age’
- On PeakCare
- On some alternative views
I am sure that, irrespective of whatever opinions you may have about raising the age of criminal responsibility, you will regard these comments as disturbing. PeakCare is confident that the beliefs and values reflected in these comments are not held by the vast majority of Australians. In particular, they do not reflect the views of:
- the few brave souls who dared to enter comments expressing alternative views
- those who ‘quietly’ gave a ‘thumbs up’ to comments entered by PeakCare
- the scores of organisations that support the Raising the Age Campaign, and
- the thousands of organisations and individuals who have indicated support for raising the age
It is nevertheless concerning that a significant number of people elected to express their ill-informed views in response to PeakCare’s post in such a vitriolic and public manner. It is noted that the authors of these comments were not confined to people who reside in Queensland – they came from people located in all parts of Australia. It is also noted that PeakCare has deleted from public view on our Facebook page, some comments that were simply too graphically offensive. For similar reasons, these comments have not been included in the linked sample of the posted comments.
On viewing our Facebook page, you may notice that PeakCare elected to respond to many of the comments that were entered. While recognising that it was unlikely that we would shift the opinions of many of those who entered comments, PeakCare believes that it was nevertheless important to challenge their views and, in doing so, provide the opportunity for others who may read the post to consider more balanced and reasonable commentary about the issues.
Our major reason for entering responses however is due to the fact that, on occasion, people who are unknown to us and who have had bad experiences with the child protection or youth justice systems during their childhood, contact PeakCare to express their gratitude for what we have written.
Accordingly, PeakCare has a strong sense of obligation to ensure that these people are not left to stand alone against the onslaught of disparaging and unfair criticisms made of them.
Yesterday, PeakCare sent correspondence to all Attorneys-General within Australia and Ministers with youth justice portfolio responsibilities drawing their attention to the comments posted on our Facebook page. We have called on each of them to ensure that they and their governments when considering the issue of raising the age of criminal responsibility make it abundantly clear to the public that the decisions they make are not driven by, or seen as attempts to appease, those who hold the beliefs and values held by those who entered appalling comments in response to our post.
We have also asked them to actively consider why it is that some pockets of our communities throughout Australia have formed these views. As Australia increasingly seeks to be a respected member of the global community through events such as the Olympic Games, PeakCare believes that it is critically important that these views are not permitted to tarnish our culture and reputation. As observed by a person who entered a response to one of the posted comments, “Australia has become the nasty country”. We surely cannot allow our country to be characterised in this way.
After reading the comments received by PeakCare, enter your responses to these comments below. You too can contribute to taking a stand against the reprehensible beliefs and values that underpin these comments and stand with those who have been unfairly vilified.
This is very sad! Congratulations to PeakCare for challenging these views.
The comments are so disturbing
Great work on some really courageous advocacy.
It is disheartening to read some of the comments that have been included, however somewhat unsurprising. I am always aware that Facebook provides a great platform for those pockets of racist, prejudicial and misinformed members of the pubic to have their voices heard, even despite very misguided beliefs and attitudes.
I do appreciate your letter to the Ministers and AG’s
I just read the comments on your piece. I am appalled, as you no doubt are, by the level of vitriol and hatred. By all means, have an alternative view but put that view respectfully. Just wanted to express to you how disappointing and concerning those responses are. Don’t let it stop you advocating for just approaches to children.
There are certainly some angry people out there. I do wonder how some people manage to get through the day when they are so heightened in their responses. Keep up the messaging.
The comments are terrible, I felt like I went down a rabbit role of hate reading them
These comments are deeply concerning and highlight that there is still lack of awareness about child development and wellbeing in our society. Many young people come in contact with youth justice due to the impact of poverty, childhood abuse or neglect or various systemic failures. Evidence shows that support programs that rehabilitate young people, that are balanced with accountability decrease further contact with the justice system. CREATE’s Youth Justice report highlights some of these issues including many of the underlying reasons young people come into contact with the justice system, and what supports they need.
https://create.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Youth-Justice-Report-Standard-2018.pdf
What I am most appalled about is the lack of society’s leaders speaking out about the vitriol, hatred, racism, and threats of violence.
Social workers, long claiming to be for social justice, are mostly silent.
Political leaders are silent.
Police, judiciary, education institution leaders, health leaders, etc. are not speaking out.
Where are the heads of our universities, our heads of social work depts, psychologist, medical …
Silence implies condoning this behavior.