Thursday, 13 November 2025

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:31):My question today is to the Minister for Youth Justice. Minister, your government has just announced that you are going to bring in tougher sentences for young people – laws that will lock up 14-year-olds at the same time that they are considered not old enough for a TikTok account, laws that could see children facing life sentences. It is appalling, it is reactionary, and it will not make our communities safer. Minister, did the government base any of their youth justice policy on evidence or just polling?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:32): I thank Mr Puglielli for his question and his interest in the government’s announcement yesterday morning. I do note that our government policy of adult time for violent crime was announced by the Premier and the Attorney-General. When you are asking about the laws, about the criminal justice settings more broadly, I think it is better directed to the Attorney-General in the other place. The legislative changes to the way the system will operate will be elevating these high-level offences and the high-level harm caused by serious repeat offences to the County Court. That is a change to the way of the court structures, and you would appreciate that the first law officer is responsible for the courts insofar as the legislature and the executive go. In terms of this question, you are asking me a question that is better directed to the Attorney-General in accordance with the standing orders. I am happy to redirect that question to the Attorney-General if Mr Puglielli requests it.

David Davis: On a point of order, President, I am just troubled here. The minister says he is not responsible, and yet he was at the press conference. He has to answer questions about his portfolio area and matters with which he is connected. I would argue that he was at the press conference; he was fully in it. He knew what he was doing, he knew what was happening and he should answer questions about the press conference.

The PRESIDENT: I do not think ministers take responsibility for everything if there are multiple other ministers at a press conference.

Aiv Puglielli: Further to the point of order, President, the question was whether this policy was based on evidence – a youth justice policy to the youth justice minister. Surely that would be something this minister is capable of answering. If he is not, he can say so.

The PRESIDENT: On the point of order, as I have said before, members have every right to ask any minister any question they like, but the minister has the right as well to respond that it is not within their remit. Minister Erdogan did offer to pass it on to the AG if you wanted that, Mr Puglielli, but if you want it to stand with the minister – you have finished your substantive answer, so Mr Puglielli with a supplementary.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:34): Minister, which community legal centres have you consulted with which support life sentences for children and think that they will improve community safety?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:35): I thank Mr Puglielli for his supplementary question, and it is a good question to talk about how sentencing policy is formulated. Sentencing policy, under the general order, is the responsibility of the Attorney-General; I think it is important that people understand that. Insofar as this line of questioning relates to my portfolio, we are planning to scale up our youth justice system in the safest way possible.

Aiv Puglielli: On a point of order, President, the question was very specific. It was about consultation. Which community legal centres have you consulted with?

The PRESIDENT: Getting back to the response to your previous point of order, you have every right to ask the minister a question. The minister has every right to respond that the remit of that answer should be with the Attorney-General.

 Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:36): I move:

That the minister’s response be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.