Victoria proposes life sentences for adults who recruit children for serious crimes
Adults who recruit children to commit serious crimes in Victoria could face life imprisonment under tough new laws introduced by the Allan Government.
The proposed legislation would create a new aggravated offence targeting adults and organised crime figures who use minors to carry out serious offences such as arson, carjacking, and home invasions.
The offence would apply even if the child does not ultimately commit the crime.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the reforms were aimed at stopping criminal organisations from exploiting vulnerable young people.
“Organised crime bosses who recruit kids to torch venues and invade homes deserve no sympathy. They are preying on children and putting Victorians at risk,” Allan said.
Recruiting a child to commit a crime is already illegal in Victoria, with 64 charges laid under existing laws. Last year, the maximum penalty was increased from 10 to 15 years in prison.
Under the new proposal, adults who recruit children for any of 71 specified serious offences could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The list of offences includes crimes such as arson, carjacking, and home invasion, which have become key issues in Victoria’s ongoing law-and-order debate.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said the legislation sends a strong message to those who exploit children for criminal activities.
“These laws send a clear message: those who recruit children to commit crime will face the full force of the law,” she said.
The legislation would also make prosecutions easier by removing the requirement for prosecutors to prove that the accused knew the child was under 18.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines said organised crime groups often use children to distance themselves from criminal acts.
“Organised crime groups are recruiting children to do their dirty work. We will not stand by and watch this happen,” Carbines said.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over a series of firebombings and violent attacks linked to organised crime in Melbourne’s hospitality sector. Victoria Police’s Operation Eclipse has led to more than 65 arrests and 370 charges connected to recent arson attacks.
Authorities have alleged that many of those involved were minors recruited through encrypted messaging apps and paid small sums to carry out attacks.
The Allan Government has also committed $5 million to upgrade technology at the State Command and Coordination Centre to strengthen Victoria Police operations against organised crime.
The proposed offence builds on the government’s broader “Adult Time for Violent Crime” policy. In December 2025, Victoria passed laws allowing offenders aged 14 and over to receive adult sentences for certain serious violent crimes, including potential life sentences in extreme cases.
While legal and youth justice advocates criticised those reforms, arguing that tougher penalties do not address the root causes of youth crime, the government maintains that the new legislation focuses on adults who exploit children rather than the young offenders themselves.
The issue of crime and community safety has become a major political battleground ahead of Victoria’s next state election. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and the Coalition have called for tougher measures, while the Allan Government argues its approach targets the organised crime figures responsible for recruiting children.
If passed, the legislation would introduce one of Victoria’s toughest penalties for adults who recruit minors into serious criminal activity, marking a significant escalation in the state’s fight against organised crime.