Youth crime crackdown promises 'no more free passes'
The Northern Territory's chief minister expanded the list of serious offences ineligible for youth diversion under new measures announced in Alice Springs on Friday.
Lia Finocchiaro said an additional 13 offences would be added, meaning offenders who commit them will no longer get the benefit from Labor's previous catch and release scheme.
"No more free passes for serious youth offenders," she told reporters.
Ms Finocchiaro said repeat offenders had been able to avoid any real consequences and were able to reoffend "days or even hours later".
"We are taking strong action to break the cycle of youth crime and restore community safety," she added.
"The days of police being a taxi service are over."
Crime, and the perception the government was unable to control it, formed the main plank of her party's campaign to oust Labor.
Growing crime rates and anti-social behaviour have been major issues in various Territory communities for some time but they drew national attention last year following a series of wild brawls in Alice Springs.
The violence prompted multiple city lock downs and curfews.
Tougher bail laws, targeting mainly youth offenders, were also introduced earlier this year.
While delivering its first budget last month, the Country Liberal Party pledged a record $1.34 billion spend on police, corrections and justice.
But the government has been criticised by the Labor opposition and justice reform groups for taking a punitive approach to crime rather than tackling its root causes.
Social worker and former Northern Territory Australian of the Year Blair McFarland said the changes would not make any difference.
"It's a really minor tweak in the legislation and it's not going to do anything to actually address the social problems that are creating all the crime," he told ABC News.
"It doesn't address the chronic poverty that people live in and it doesn't give kids a future.
"These are the kids who grew up with the state smashing Aboriginal legal systems to the best of their ability, and they grew up in a lawless sort of space and they get to an age where they realise that their life is going to be grinding poverty, chronic illness and early death and they have got nothing to lose."
Under the latest changes, offences including serious harm offending, hit and runs, driving stolen vehicles, assaults on frontline workers and break-ins will no longer be eligible for youth diversion and will have a default position of proceeding to charge.
"We're giving police the tools they need as we continue to roll out reforms aimed at reducing crime." Ms Finocchiaro said.
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