NT crime crackdown coming
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The NT Government is pushing ahead its law-and-order agenda.
The Northern Territory’s Country Liberal Party (CLP) government is following through with election promises that include lowering the age of criminal responsibility, implementing ‘Declan's Law’ bail changes, and cracking down on public drinking.
Amid the rapid pace of these reforms, human rights advocates and legal experts have voiced serious concerns, questioning the effectiveness and potential harm of the measures.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says the government is acting decisively to address crime.
“Territorians have given us a clear job to do, and we are getting it done,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
The reforms include several snap policies, such as laws targeting the promotion of criminal activity on social media, greater police powers, and mandatory sentencing for assaults on workers.
Among the most significant changes is the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years, reversing the previous Labor government’s decision made two years ago.
This move has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and children’s rights advocates, who argue that it will disproportionately affect vulnerable children, many of whom already face issues such as disability, trauma, and poor mental health.
Another element of the reforms is ‘Declan’s Law’, which expands the presumption against bail for serious violent offences and applies this to both adults and children aged 10 to 17.
Named after 20-year-old Declan Laverty, who was fatally stabbed by a person on bail, the law introduces tougher bail conditions, including mandatory electronic monitoring for repeat offenders and the criminalisation of any breach of bail.
The government has also introduced new laws aimed at public drinking, which will allow police to issue fines of up to $925 and charge individuals for drinking in prohibited areas.
The law has exemptions in specific locations such as Mindil Beach, but critics argue it will disproportionately target vulnerable populations and will not effectively address alcohol-related harm.
Other reforms include the creation of a new offence for ram raids, the introduction of “posting and boasting” laws to penalise people promoting criminal activity on social media, and enhanced police powers to use metal-detecting wands in public spaces, including schools.
Despite the government's assertion that these measures are necessary to combat crime, experts and rights organisations have raised concerns about their potential negative impact. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) has argued (PDF) that these punitive measures will not make communities safer and could, in fact, increase crime rates by exacerbating underlying social issues.
“Law and order posturing about punishment, power, and control has never worked before, and it won’t work now,” NATSILS chair Karly Warner has told reporters.
A recent report from the NT Children's Commissioner has also shed light on the vulnerabilities of children who come into contact with the justice system.
The report, which examined the experiences of children in NT detention, reportedly found that most of them had a history with child protection services, and nearly half were diagnosed with cognitive disabilities.
NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk has urged the government to pause the proposed change to the age of criminal responsibility, arguing that these children need support and intervention, not criminalisation.
The Justice Reform Initiative, has criticised the government's approach, stating that the policies appear to be driven by emotion rather than evidence.
Experts have highlighted that early involvement with the justice system can increase the likelihood of future criminal behaviour, particularly for young people.
The NT government’s plan to reintroduce the use of spit hoods in youth detention has also drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organisations.
Amnesty International Australia has labelled the move as a breach of international human rights standards.
“Lowering the age of criminal responsibility and using methods of torture is a serious breach of children’s rights,” said Kacey Teerman, Amnesty’s Indigenous Rights Campaigner.
The United Nations has also called for an increase in the age of criminal responsibility and an end to practices such as solitary confinement and the use of spit hoods in youth detention.
The NT government’s aggressive crime-reduction package has prompted heated debate on the balance between public safety and human rights.
While the CLP maintains that these reforms are necessary to curb rising crime, critics argue that they risk deepening social divides and worsening the conditions for vulnerable children and communities.
