Derek McDowell (Labour)

Senator Hayes raised the issue of the incident in which a 17 year old young man was killed in the constituency I formerly represented in the other House. I am sure the Leader will join me in expressing condolences to his family and, although I do not want to pre-empt legal proceedings, expressing our shock that it appears that those responsible may well have been under age. It brings up the issue to which Senator Hayes alluded, the knife culture that has arisen in this city, but it also brings up another issue of broader import, the way the justice system deals with child offenders. I know that those living in my part of the city who have followed what recently happened with shock and horror will also want to be reassured that the mechanisms are in place whereby the offenders, if they prove to be under age, can be dealt with efficiently and properly by our juvenile justice system. The evidence of recent years suggests that this may not be the case.