Introduction
Hello everyone. Last Wednesday evening, at the location behind me, several teenagers attacked Chinese people. As of now, two 12-year-old children were arrested by the police on the first night and then quickly released on bail. Later, a total of seven children aged 11 to 16 were arrested. A children's court will be held next month, but due to the protection of children's privacy, the trial will not be open to the public, and only the judge's ruling will be announced.
The Background of the Incident
I went to a Chinese supermarket across the street to inquire about the situation. It turns out that this group of hooligans has been active in this area for a long time, often harassing or even robbing customers. The supermarket staff have helped customers call the police, but they have also been targeted as a result.
The Area's Changes
I lived in this area about ten years ago for about a year and a half. At that time, this area was a wasteland, a former abandoned car factory. Now, it has been completely rebuilt into a high-density apartment area. In just four or five years, Australia has completed the construction of this area, and the population density will continue to increase in the future. There are also many businesses in the surrounding area, including a stadium, a dog-walking green space, a playground where the incident occurred, and a health facility.
My Personal Experience
I revisited the places where I used to live, especially those where I had similar experiences. I was once surrounded by teenagers at a bus stop near my former residence. They usually gather in groups of three or five, and sometimes there are more than a dozen of them. One day, when I passed by, one of them came over to stop me, and then the others surrounded me. I asked if I could help them, and they seemed to think that I was not easy to mess with because I could speak English and seemed to understand some basic ways of getting along with them.
I also lived with a 20-year-old girl who was a problem teenager. Her father passed away early, leaving her a house in the public housing area. She often fought with her boyfriend, and one night, she kicked her boyfriend into my room and locked the door. I called the police, and they were taken to the police station. I was also a witness and had to accept police inquiries from time to time.
The Impact of Public Housing Culture
In Australia and many other places in the world, public housing areas often form a vicious cycle. The housing is passed down from generation to generation, and the residents are accustomed to the public housing culture. Because the government provides free housing, they lack motivation and are more likely to sink. The friends around them also have similar ways of thinking.
The School Involved
The children who committed the crime are from a local school. I visited the school, but it was closed early on Tuesday. I searched the Internet and found that the school has had many problems in recent years, including bullying, teacher violence, and偷拍. The school is located in the East Garden area, surrounded by public housing areas, and most of the students come from public housing families.
The Role of Social Media
In addition to the public housing culture, social media also plays a role in the increase in juvenile delinquency. Some children have social media accounts despite the legal age limit, and they often post violent or inappropriate content on these platforms. Social media has further amplified the problem of juvenile delinquency and some borderline behaviors.
The Legal System
In Australia, children aged 10 can be held criminally responsible, but there is a principle called "Doli Incapax," which means that children under 14 are presumed to be incapable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. The prosecution has the burden of proof to prove that the child knew that their actions were wrong and would cause consequences. In practice, it is very difficult for the prosecution to prove this, so the conviction rate of children under 14 is very low.
In 2016, the Australian Supreme Court clarified the "Doli Incapax" principle, which led to a significant decrease in the conviction rate of children aged 10 to 14. In 2015, 76% of children in this age group were convicted, but in 2023, only 16% were convicted. This is one of the reasons why juvenile delinquency has become more serious in recent years.
The Debate on the Legal System
The incident has also sparked a debate on the legal system. Some people believe that the "Doli Incapax" principle should be abolished or modified, while others believe that it is necessary to protect the rights and interests of children. In some states, such as the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria, the minimum age of criminal responsibility has been gradually raised to 14. In New South Wales, the Green Party has also proposed to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, but this proposal has been rejected by other parties.
On the other hand, some people believe that the current legal system is too lenient towards juvenile delinquency and that more severe measures should be taken. In Queensland, the new government has proposed a "Adult Crime, Adult Time" policy, which means that if a juvenile commits a serious crime, they will be treated as an adult and face the same penalties.
The Political Aspect
The incident has also attracted the attention of the political circle. The only politician who has publicly spoken out is Jason Lee, a Chinese-Australian MP from the Strasfield constituency. He said that he had talked to the New South Wales Attorney-General and that the government was taking the incident seriously. However, some people have questioned why the local MP, Michael Daley, who is also the Attorney-General, has not spoken out.
Michael Daley is the MP for the Maroubra constituency, where the incident occurred. He was previously the leader of the New South Wales Labor Party, but he resigned in 2018 after making controversial remarks about immigration. Some people believe that he may be reluctant to speak out because he is worried about affecting his support among the local residents.
The Importance of Reporting
In addition to the legal and political aspects, the incident also highlights the importance of reporting. Many people choose not to report crimes because of language and cultural barriers, or because they are afraid of retaliation. However, reporting crimes is not only important for protecting the rights and interests of victims, but also for improving the safety of the community.
If you witness a crime or are a victim of a crime, please report it to the police as soon as possible. You can also provide information to the police through the Crime Stoppers hotline. By reporting crimes, we can help the police to crack down on crime and improve the safety of our community.
Conclusion
The teenager attack on Chinese in Australia is a serious incident that has attracted the attention of the public. The incident highlights the problems of juvenile delinquency, public housing culture, social media, and the legal system in Australia. We should take this incident as an opportunity to reflect on these problems and take measures to improve the safety of our community.
At the same time, we should also respect the rights and interests of children and ensure that they receive proper education and treatment. We should also strengthen the communication and cooperation between different ethnic groups and promote social harmony and stability.
Finally, I would like to express my condolences to the victims of the incident and wish them a speedy recovery. I also hope that the government and society can take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.