Liberals vow to overhaul juvenile justice
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The Shadow Attorney General, Christian Porter, says public safety is the top priority. (ABC)
The Liberal Party says its plan to overhaul the juvenile justice system will improve community safety.
At present only the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General can apply for juvenile offenders to be publicly identified.
Under a Liberal Party plan, prosecutors would also be able to apply to the courts to have identification restrictions removed.
The policy would also give courts more discretion to try juveniles aged 16 and 17 as adults for serious offences, such as violent assaults.
It is the same policy the Liberal Party took to the 2005 election.
The Shadow Attorney General, Christian Porter, says public safety is the top priority.
"Identifying offenders where there is a legitimate public interest to be served in doing so," he said.
The Labor leader, Alan Carpenter, says the announcement is insignificant.
"The provision already exists," he said.
Mr Carpenter says the Liberal Party is trying to seize a political opportunity.
Offenders acquitted
The Attorney General, Jim McGinty, says the plan will see more offenders acquitted.
Mr McGinty says juries in adult courts usually acquit more offenders, than judges in the Children's Court.
Plan criticised
The President of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Judith Fordham, has criticised the plan, saying children should be protected.
"If we are going to treat 16 and 17-year-olds as adults, why not 15-year-olds, why not 14-year-olds," she said.
"Where do you draw the line? The line has to be drawn somewhere and that's where the line is drawn."
