Raise the age discussion paper released by ACT government

But Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said international evidence and research suggested there should not be an exception.

The issue will be one of many that the ACT government will explore as it seeks to raise the age of criminal responsibility in the ACT from 10 to 14 years.

The ACT is the first Australian jurisdiction to commit to raising the age.

The territory government's justice and community services directorate will release a discussion paper detailing the issues on Wednesday.

The paper raises questions around exceptions to the criminal age of responsibility, alternative models to the youth justice system, victim rights and supports and legal and technical considerations, such as extradition.

Exceptions to the criminal age of responsibility could be applied to crimes such as murder, manslaughter or sexual offences, the paper said.

Mr Rattenbury said the ACT government had not formed a view on this at the moment but said international evidence suggested against having exceptions.

"The international evidence and the research and the advocacy would suggest that you don't have exceptions, that if you form the view that young people cannot form the intent to be held criminally culpable then that should apply across the board," he said.

"But there are those who argue that you might want to have these exception and so the government has not formed a view at this point."

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With the release of the discussion paper, the ACT government will seek expert and community input on how to implement the reform.

Mr Rattenbury said he expected to get feedback from across the country, not just the ACT.

He said the government planned to introduce legislation either late this year or early next year.

"I've still got the pedal to the metal on this one in the sense it is a priority, I want to get it done but I want to do it properly," Mr Rattenbury said.

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