The Northern Territory is days away from raising the criminal age of responsibility while the government is now proposing stronger laws to crack down on knife crime.
The Top End will raise the criminal age of responsibility from 10 years old to 12 years old from August 1.
Not only will the government change the criminal age of responsibility but it is also introducing more support programs for youth caught up in a life of crime.
The Territory government has invested $5 million into the On The Right Track program, with 20 staff to be based in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine.
"We are an evidence based government and we know that a therapeutic response is the best way to curb youth crime and antisocial behaviour," Attorney General Chansey Paech said.
If a child under 11 engages in criminal activity instead of being detained they'll undergo diversion programs, with staff to work one on one with the child and their family.
Minister for Territory Families Kate Worden said: "The main focus for this program is parent responsibility and working with parents and diversion activities for children under the age of 12."
The legislation passed in November last year, five years after the Royal Commission into the Detention and Protection of Children made raising the age a key recommendation.
But the Country Liberal Party are questioning why it has taken so long to come into effect.
"To take this long to do it and only provide that small amount of money and only those 20 employees to deal with those programs, certainly shows there is a lack of commitment," Shadow Treasurer Bill Yan said.
Victoria was the first state to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12.
The NT government reports there are no children currently in detention under the age of 12.
It comes as the Territory government introduces stronger powers for police to tackle knife crime.
A proposed amendment to the Police Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2023 will allow officers to use wands to detect and seize weapons.
The new laws are set to pass on urgency this week and have been welcomed by NT Police.
"This tool will give us the ability to look at high-risk areas and other declared areas including transport routes to engage with the public, educate them on what we're doing and then do a non-invasive search," Acting Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said.
The amendments are all part of the NT government's review into Bail and Weapons, which was announced just days after the alleged murder of Declan Laverty.
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