Crimes Amendment (Recruitment of Children for Criminal Activity) Bill 2026

What the bill says it does

The purpose of this Act is to amend the Crimes Act 1958— (a) to provide for a further offence of recruiting a child to engage in criminal activity; and (b) to make consequential amendments to the existing offence of recruiting a child to engage in criminal activity; and (c) to provide that an adult may be liable for either offence in circumstances where the adult knows that the child is, or probably is, a child.

Quoted from: Purpose clause of the bill as introduced. Not written or edited by FOCUp.

Official sources

• Parliament of Victoria: this bill
• As passed print – Bill (DOCX)
• As passed print – Bill (PDF)
• Introduction print – Bill (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Bill (PDF)
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (DOCX)
• Introduction print – Explanatory Memorandum (PDF)

Timeline

1. First reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   17 June 2026

2. First reading: Statements of compatibility tabled — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026 · Source

3. Second reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   18 June 2026 · Source

4. Second reading: Government Business Program — Legislative Assembly

   11 Aug 2026

5. Second reading: Debate resumed — Legislative Assembly

   11 Aug 2026

6. Second reading: Amendments circulated — Legislative Assembly

   11 Aug 2026 · Source

7. Second reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   13 Aug 2026

8. Third reading moved — Legislative Assembly

   13 Aug 2026

9. Third reading passed — Legislative Assembly

   13 Aug 2026

10. Message received from Assembly — Legislative Council

    13 Aug 2026

11. First reading passed — Legislative Council

    13 Aug 2026

12. First reading: Statements of Compatibility tabled — Legislative Council

    13 Aug 2026 · Source

13. Second reading: Instruction to Committee of the whole — Legislative Council

    25 Aug 2026

14. Committee of the whole: Date committed — Legislative Council

    25 Aug 2026

15. Committee of the whole completed - Bill amended — Legislative Council

    25 Aug 2026 · Source

16. Third reading moved — Legislative Council

    25 Aug 2026

17. Third reading passed — Legislative Council

    25 Aug 2026

18. Dealing with Council amendments

    26 Aug 2026

19. Short title change

    26 Aug 2026

20. Royal Assent given

    1 Sept 2026

21. Second reading moved — Legislative Council

    Date not published · Source

22. Second reading: Opposition amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    Date not published · Source

23. Second reading: Moira Deeming's amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    Date not published · Source

24. Second reading: Government amendments circulated — Legislative Council

    Date not published · Source

25. Second reading passed — Legislative Council

    Date not published

26. Act number 32/2026

    Date not published

Election commitments on the same subject

Matched by shared budget line and wording. A match does not mean this bill delivers the commitment.

• Adult Crime, Adult Time · Victorian Liberals and Nationals · 8 May 2026
• Ban bikies and organised crime from major construction projects · Victorian Liberals and Nationals · 8 May 2026
• Establish new taskforce to recover stolen money and seize assets born from corrupt and fraudulent activity · Victorian Liberals and Nationals · 8 May 2026
• Split Victoria's Court of Appeal into separate Court of Criminal Appeal and Court of Civil Appeal · Victorian Liberals and Nationals · 23 Aug 2026
• No change to age of criminal responsibility · Victorian Liberals and Nationals · 4 Sept 2026