Up to Life in Jail for Recruiting Children to Commit Serious Crimes
Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
child exploitation child protection child safety criminal justice criminal penalties criminal recruitment organized crime sentencing youth justice
Introduced by: The Hon Sonya Kilkenny MP (ALP); The Hon Jaclyn Symes MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
James Newbury LIB
“I rise to speak on the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment ofChildrenforCriminalActivity) Bill2026.Crimehasconsequences, andnotdealingwith crimehas a profound, longstanding and tragic impact on our community. We have seen that in recentdays.”
Ros Spence ALP
“I rise today to speak on the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026. I am very pleased to be able to do so because last week I had the privilege of being sworn in as the Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice and Minister for Victim Support.”
“I rise to support the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026.”
David Southwick LIB
“It is a pleasure to rise and speak on the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026. A number of times I have spoken here in the chamber about the crime crisis that Victoria has been experiencing now for a number of years under the Andrews, Allan and now Carroll governments, and we must get to the bottomof thisand ensurecommunitysafetyis anumberonepriority.”
Brad Battin LIB
“I rise to speak in relation to the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026. I think it is probably fair to say it is sad where we are today when it comes to crime here in Victoria that we have to be debating this bill.”
Meng Heang Tak ALP
“I am delighted to rise today to speak in support of the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026. This is another important bill, one that introduces a new offence targeting adults who recruit children to commit serious offences, for example, aggravated home invasion or aggravated carjacking.”
“I rise to speak on the Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026 and to say that the Greens oppose this bill. Letusbeclearfromtheoutset:adultswhoexploitchildrenanddrawthemintoseriouscriminalactivity shouldbeheldaccountable.Childrenshouldneverbeused,pressuredorgroomedbyadultstocommit offences.”
Tim Richardson ALP
“I move: Thatthedebate benowadjourned. Motion agreed to and debate adjourned. Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day. Energy and Resources Legislation Amendment (VEET Strategic Review and Other Matters) Bill2026 Second reading Debate resumed on motion of Lily D’Ambrosio: Thatthisbillbe now read a second time.”
Matthew Guy LIB
“Isn’t the chamber blessed this afternoon? They are going to get 30 minutes of discussion on energy from me, and I love talking about energy. From coal-fired power to solar to batteries to gas, there is so much to talk about when it comes to energy. With this bill there will be a bit of light and shade. Do not worry, I will make sure it is interesting for you.”
Josh Bull ALP
“I ampleased to have the opportunity to make a contribution to the Energy and Resources Legislation Amendment (VEET Strategic Review and Other Matters) Bill 2026. In the 30 minutes that the previous speaker had the opportunity to hold the floor he spoke atlengthaboutarangeofdifferentpolicypositionsthathaveofcoursebeenlookedatbythisstateand bythecountry.”
Richard Riordan LIB
“I rise to speak on the Energy and Resources Legislation Amendment(VEETStrategic Review and Other Matters) Bill 2026, butbeforeI get into the detail of the bill I do want to make some comment on the member for Pascoe Vale’s sort of pixies-at-the- bottom-of-the-garden approach to energy generation, which of course is the mainstay of many of our colleaguesopposite, who livein gated littlesuburbs wher…”
Nina Taylor ALP
“What is very evident from some of the displays we have seen todayis thatthoseoppositeabsolutelyhatetheVictorian energyupgrades (VEU) program. They have always detested it and have always opposed it, and this is just another example of them being renewableenergyphobic.Itisclearlyideological.”