Extradition issues to be explored in ACT raise the age push

The issue will be explored as part of the territory's discussion paper into how it will raise the age from 10 to 14, which is set to be released before the end of the month.

The discussion paper would also look at a multidisciplinary panel as an alternative model to the youth justice system.

This panel would be made up of experts who would assess the needs of young people, provide referral to services and work closely with them and their families to ensure they attend these services.

The ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction where the government has committed to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

But this could pose issues if there is an interstate extradition order for a child under 14.

"There are a range of quite difficult legal issues we need to consider as well as the ACT will be the only jurisdiction making this reform at this point," ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said.

"We need to consider issues such as a young person [being] sought to be extradited to another jurisdiction, issues or orders from other jurisdictions, issues of suspended convictions [and] what powers police have when they find a young person involved in harmful behaviour.

"There are answers to all these questions but there's a level of complexity that we need to work through to make sure this reform works and works well."

Mr Rattenbury was at Parliament House on Wednesday with representatives from the Australian Council of Social Service as well as leaders of the respective state and territory councils.

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The councils were at Parliament to push the federal government to consider lifting the age of criminal responsibility.

ACOSS chief executive Dr Cassandra Goldie said she wanted other jurisdictions to also take action.

"We want to see action across the country, we are here today so we welcome the ACT government moving with this," she said.

"We don't want to see us all sit back and wait any further. No child can afford that and no family can afford that.

"This reform is long overdue and we don't what that kind of approach where [other jurisdictions] wait to see how the ACT goes."

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