The Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service has labelled premier Jeremy Rockliff's comments regarding 'adult crime, adult time' laws as "unacceptable".
Mr Rockliff, via social media this week said "all options are on the table" in response to alleged anti-social incidents in Hobart's northern suburbs.
"That includes looking at Adult Crime, Adult Time laws, which are working well in Queensland currently," Mr Rockliff's post read.
Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Jake Smith said Mr Rockliff's comments are a "knee-jerk reaction" in relation to alleged incidents of crime in the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy.
"We totally recognise that community safety is vital - everyone deserves to feel safe," Mr Smith Said.
"However, 'Adult Crime - Adult Time' approach to youth crime is not an effective solution.
"This so-called solution to youth crime will result in increased community safety issues and increased detention and prison costs to taxpayers in the future."
Earlier this month the Tasmanian Government opened community consultation on the development of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy (TAYJS), a component of the Youth Justice Blueprint 2024-2034.
The TAYJS consultation period was welcomed by TALS as well as prominent members of Tasmania's Aboriginal community including Indigenous Advisor to Amnesty International Australia, Uncle Rodney Dillon, and Melaythenner Teeackana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation chair, Nick Cameron.
TALS supports the government's opening of community consultation on the development of the TAYJS, however Mr Smith said if the Tasmanian Government wants to achieve real, long-term outcomes, it must invest in early intervention and prevention strategies.
"Both overwhelming data and research shows that locking up kids leads to more crime, not less," Mr Smith said.
In an update on your crime on Tuesday, Mr Rockliff confirmed the government would be "would be "taking concrete action - immediately" by "surging officers to trouble spots across the state" as well as reviewing punitive responses to alleged crime.
Mr Rockliff said intervention programs will also be increased, including one in Hobart's Northern Suburbs which will begin next week.
"We'll be taking a hard look at our bail and sentencing laws," Mr Rockliff said.
"If there are lessons to be learned from other States, or laws that work elsewhere, we will absolutely be considering them."
On Wednesday, Tasmania's Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, Isabelle Crompton, said evidence shows punitive responses to children's harmful behaviour do not work and can lead to less safe communities.
"Prevention, early intervention, and individualised therapeutic responses are key," Ms Crompton said.
"I urge the government to hold the course on its nation-leading and contemporary commitments to prioritising and investing in addressing the underlying causes of youth offending."
Mr Smith said TALS is "very concerned" by the mixed messages being sent by the government on youth crime.
"One week the government is consulting on early intervention, diversion and strategies that treat detention as a last resort, and this includes raising the age of criminal responsibility," Mr Smith said.
"In the next week, the government is considering laws to further lock up children and increase the likelihood of future offending.
"These two are vastly opposing positions on youth justice."
