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Vic teens tried as adults over carjacking

Teenage carjackers could be tried as adults and higher standard sentences applied for murder and rape under changes introduced into Victorian parliament.

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Source: AAP


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Teen carjackers and home invaders could be tried as adults in Victorian courts and teenage prison escapees publicly named under sweeping reforms.

Changes across three separate justice sectors - sentencing, bail and youth - were introduced into parliament on Wednesday.

Under reforms to youth justice, 16 and 17-year-olds could be sent from the Children's Court to higher courts for offences such as aggravated carjacking and aggravated home invasion.

Jail times will be increased, and those aged 18 to 21 will no longer be able to go into youth detention without exceptional circumstance.

Police will also be able to name young prison escapees faster, rather than the current system where they need a court order.

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"Our reforms will make sure serious offenders are held accountable for their actions and punished for their crimes, and ensure that sentences are more in line with community expectations," Attorney-General Martin Pakula said on Wednesday.

The laws will also create higher standard sentences for 12 crimes and will replace baseline sentences introduced by the Napthine government.

Under the changes, there would be a standard of 25 years for murder, 10 years for rape, 16 for commercial drug trafficking and 10 years for child incest offences.

Bail reforms recently announced in response to the Paul Coghlan review after January's Bourke Street massacre will also make it harder for serious offenders to get bail.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy again pushed for mandatory sentencing, one-strike bail and naming and shaming youth offenders, which he said was based on advice from community advocacy groups, police and residents.

"I don't need academics citing to me examples in America, Canada or Europe, I'm hearing it first hand from families and we know that we can provide a solution, I'm elected to come up with solutions," he told reporters.

The Community and Public Sector Union backed the government's changes.

"Assaults on youth justice staff behind the wall must be treated the same as if they were committed outside," the union tweeted on Wednesday.


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