Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refrained from endorsing Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan’s proposed “adult time for violent crime” legislation, which could potentially lead to life sentences for offenders as young as 14.

The Prime Minister and the Premier appeared together at a press conference today to celebrate the much-anticipated opening of Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway Tunnel. This event follows closely on the heels of Allan’s contentious policy announcement earlier in the week.

The Victorian government plans to introduce new laws aimed at intensifying the crackdown on youth offenders involved in serious crimes, including machete attacks, home invasions, carjackings, and armed robberies. The proposal suggests trying these young offenders in adult courts to impose stricter penalties.

During his visit to the state, Albanese was asked to weigh in on these proposed legal changes. However, he did not express explicit support for the new laws but acknowledged that the Premier’s decision was driven by a desire to ensure public safety.

“Australians have a right to feel secure,” Albanese said to the press. “While state governments have autonomy over their policies, the priority remains the safety of Australians.”

“Australians want to be safe. State governments determine their own policy, but Australians do want to be safe,” he told reporters.

“So I certainly understand that the Premier has made this decision, which is consistent with her commitment to keeping Victorians safe.”

Under the proposed laws hoped to be passed by parliament before the end of the year, children as young as 14 will be tried in adult court for a range of violent offences, with the maximum penalty to be raised to life imprisonment.

The reforms are akin to the Queensland government’s tough “adult crime, adult time” laws.

“We want courts to treat these violent children like adults, so jail is more likely and sentences are longer,” Allan said at a press conference earlier this week announcing the measures.

“This will mean more violent youth offenders going to jail, facing serious consequences.”

But the premier came under fire from her colleagues across the bench and legal experts, who claim the laws would impede the state’s human rights obligations.

They have also questioned the timing of the announcement, as the premier seeks another term at next year’s looming state election.

Senator Lidia Thorpe said the laws were not about safety, but the election, adding that Indigenous and ethnic children would be unfairly targeted.

“The Premier wants to lock up 14-year-olds for life and pretend that’s leadership. It’s unfathomably cruel and the most shameful attempt to cling to power,” she said.

“Every child Labor locks up is a child the government has already failed — in housing, mental health, disability support, education and care.

“Prison makes children more traumatised, more disconnected, and more likely to reoffend. It is harmful and does not make anyone’s communities safer.”

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Human Rights Law Centre, and Amnesty International have all strongly condemned the laws and called for the state to reverse their course of action, saying the penalties are “cruel”, “shameful” and “inhumane”.