By Aaron Cordy
SHOULD your child be able to get off a school bus at 4 O’clock on a Monday afternoon and walk 300 meters to get home safely? It is a simple question, and one most would agree should be answered with a simple yes.
The vision of two Shepparton primary school students not making the walk from a school bus to home safely as they were assaulted by a group of high schoolers has been seen widely across social media, and sparked an outcry in the community. For the parents, Katie and Mark Mills, Tammy and Ladell Sanders and Chris Staggard, the incident was a nightmare unlocked; for the wider community, it is a tipping point.
The Tipping Point Rally held at Victoria Park Lake last month called for consequences for the actions of young people who commit crime and live with an almost justified belief that they can get away with it. Accountability is what Tipping Point are calling for, which doesn’t necessarily mean jail time. It can be an education program or community service as long as there is a mandatory intervention and consequences.
“A lot of people go, ‘Oh no, we can’t send these kids to jail. They’re only 13.’ We’re not saying that. We’ve never said that. As soon as we say a bit more severe consequences or just any consequences, people just suddenly jump from nothing to like jail,” said Mark.
“We, at the end of the day, want these kids to get out of this cycle, whatever they’re in, and be good humans, and prove to themselves, and prove to us, and prove to the community that they can be.”
Tipping Point has an online petition requesting that the Legislative Assembly amend the Youth Justice Act 2024:
1. Remove mandatory pre-court diversion requirements for young persons charged with serious and violent offences;
2. Strengthen the ability of Victoria Police to charge and bring before the Children’s Court young persons alleged to have committed serious public order, property or violent offences;
3. Young offenders who engage in serious violent behaviour shall be mandated to participate in appropriate intervention, education or rehabilitation programs to promote accountability and reduce reoffending;
4. Strengthen recognition of victim safety and wellbeing within the youth justice system; and
5. Review the operation of doli incapax to ensure serious public order, property and violent offences can be appropriately considered by the courts.
To sign the petition, visit, Petition: Amend the Youth Justice Act 2024 – Petitions – Parliament of Victoria
