A Queensland MP has tabled a bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.

Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, said it was out of step with international jurisdictions and the bill “lays the groundwork for a change in approach” in youth justice.

“The short answer is it means you can be charged, sentenced and held in a watch house, and put into youth detention centres,” he told Scott Emerson.

“Our age of criminal responsibility in Queensland and most Australian states is totally out of line with international jurisdictions, it’s in breach of our human rights obligations for those kids under international human rights law.

“And clearly what we are seeing as well is that this current approach isn’t even keeping the community safe.”

He said there was clear evidence that early contact with the criminal legal system dramatically increases the likelihood that these kids will re-offend, and more seriously.

Press PLAY below to hear more about why he wants to raise the criminal age

Image: Getty