Latest news with #JusticeReformInitiative
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Senseless violence': boy attack fast-tracks law reform
A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown. But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday. It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random. Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account". Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown. "But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday. "This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated." The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review. Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort. Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes". Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament. Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending. It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness. "If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said. Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws". "This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said. Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland. Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign. Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws. But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April. Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community. The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget. A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown. But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday. It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random. Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account". Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown. "But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday. "This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated." The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review. Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort. Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes". Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament. Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending. It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness. "If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said. Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws". "This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said. Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland. Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign. Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws. But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April. Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community. The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget. A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown. But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday. It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random. Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account". Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown. "But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday. "This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated." The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review. Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort. Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes". Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament. Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending. It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness. "If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said. Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws". "This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said. Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland. Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign. Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws. But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April. Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community. The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget. A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown. But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday. It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random. Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account". Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown. "But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday. "This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated." The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review. Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort. Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes". Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament. Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending. It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness. "If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said. Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws". "This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said. Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland. Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign. Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws. But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April. Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community. The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget.
The Advertiser
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Jailing is failing: youth prison numbers under scrutiny
"Tough on crime" reforms across Australia are proving to be tough on Aboriginal people, according to advocates examining rising incarceration rates. A two-day Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs is being held as the Northern Territory government unrolls new measures in a $1.5 billion law and order crackdown. But punitive approaches undermine children's human rights and makes contact with the justice system for vulnerable young people more likely, the NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk says. In her jurisdiction, 85 per cent of children who had previously spent time in custody were returned to prison within 12 months, Ms Musk said. "If you're thinking sending a kid to prison will teach them a lesson that will stop them from committing a crime, well, the data shows otherwise," she told AAP. Ms Musk and fellow children's guardians and commissioners from across Australia are urging federal, state and territory governments to address a "disturbing erosion of hard-won safeguards" as tougher youth crime legislation is introduced across the nation. "These children don't belong in the justice system, which is punitive, focused on control and largely a product of harmful, custodial conditions like the use of restraint, like separation and isolation practices," Ms Musk said. In Queensland, children as young as 10 can face adult jail time for a range of offences after the state government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The NT government recently passed tougher bail laws, leading to a surge in the territory's prison population. The territory also plans to retrain dozens of public housing and transit officers as police public safety officers armed with guns, a move slammed by Indigenous and legal advocacy groups. Tougher bail laws have also been introduced in Victoria and NSW, despite warnings from Aboriginal legal services more Indigenous young people would be imprisoned. The NT's incarceration rate is reportedly the second-highest in the world, only behind El Salvador, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner says. "Almost unbelievably, governments in other parts of the country appear to be racing to catch up," he said in a statement. Tyson Carmody, the founder and director of Kings Narrative, a support service for Aboriginal men, said punitive policies were not a solution. "With the high rates of incarceration of Aboriginal adults and young people, the 'tough on crime' approach feels too much like a 'tough on Aboriginal people' approach," he said. Catherine Liddle, chief executive for SNAICC, the peak body for Indigenous children, said criminalising young people does not address crime rates or create safer communities. "The evidence is very clear that the younger a child is when they are locked up, the more likely it is that they will have ongoing criminal justice system involvement," she said. Ms Liddle said investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion programs was proven to interrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment. "Tough on crime" reforms across Australia are proving to be tough on Aboriginal people, according to advocates examining rising incarceration rates. A two-day Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs is being held as the Northern Territory government unrolls new measures in a $1.5 billion law and order crackdown. But punitive approaches undermine children's human rights and makes contact with the justice system for vulnerable young people more likely, the NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk says. In her jurisdiction, 85 per cent of children who had previously spent time in custody were returned to prison within 12 months, Ms Musk said. "If you're thinking sending a kid to prison will teach them a lesson that will stop them from committing a crime, well, the data shows otherwise," she told AAP. Ms Musk and fellow children's guardians and commissioners from across Australia are urging federal, state and territory governments to address a "disturbing erosion of hard-won safeguards" as tougher youth crime legislation is introduced across the nation. "These children don't belong in the justice system, which is punitive, focused on control and largely a product of harmful, custodial conditions like the use of restraint, like separation and isolation practices," Ms Musk said. In Queensland, children as young as 10 can face adult jail time for a range of offences after the state government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The NT government recently passed tougher bail laws, leading to a surge in the territory's prison population. The territory also plans to retrain dozens of public housing and transit officers as police public safety officers armed with guns, a move slammed by Indigenous and legal advocacy groups. Tougher bail laws have also been introduced in Victoria and NSW, despite warnings from Aboriginal legal services more Indigenous young people would be imprisoned. The NT's incarceration rate is reportedly the second-highest in the world, only behind El Salvador, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner says. "Almost unbelievably, governments in other parts of the country appear to be racing to catch up," he said in a statement. Tyson Carmody, the founder and director of Kings Narrative, a support service for Aboriginal men, said punitive policies were not a solution. "With the high rates of incarceration of Aboriginal adults and young people, the 'tough on crime' approach feels too much like a 'tough on Aboriginal people' approach," he said. Catherine Liddle, chief executive for SNAICC, the peak body for Indigenous children, said criminalising young people does not address crime rates or create safer communities. "The evidence is very clear that the younger a child is when they are locked up, the more likely it is that they will have ongoing criminal justice system involvement," she said. Ms Liddle said investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion programs was proven to interrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment. "Tough on crime" reforms across Australia are proving to be tough on Aboriginal people, according to advocates examining rising incarceration rates. A two-day Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs is being held as the Northern Territory government unrolls new measures in a $1.5 billion law and order crackdown. But punitive approaches undermine children's human rights and makes contact with the justice system for vulnerable young people more likely, the NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk says. In her jurisdiction, 85 per cent of children who had previously spent time in custody were returned to prison within 12 months, Ms Musk said. "If you're thinking sending a kid to prison will teach them a lesson that will stop them from committing a crime, well, the data shows otherwise," she told AAP. Ms Musk and fellow children's guardians and commissioners from across Australia are urging federal, state and territory governments to address a "disturbing erosion of hard-won safeguards" as tougher youth crime legislation is introduced across the nation. "These children don't belong in the justice system, which is punitive, focused on control and largely a product of harmful, custodial conditions like the use of restraint, like separation and isolation practices," Ms Musk said. In Queensland, children as young as 10 can face adult jail time for a range of offences after the state government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The NT government recently passed tougher bail laws, leading to a surge in the territory's prison population. The territory also plans to retrain dozens of public housing and transit officers as police public safety officers armed with guns, a move slammed by Indigenous and legal advocacy groups. Tougher bail laws have also been introduced in Victoria and NSW, despite warnings from Aboriginal legal services more Indigenous young people would be imprisoned. The NT's incarceration rate is reportedly the second-highest in the world, only behind El Salvador, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner says. "Almost unbelievably, governments in other parts of the country appear to be racing to catch up," he said in a statement. Tyson Carmody, the founder and director of Kings Narrative, a support service for Aboriginal men, said punitive policies were not a solution. "With the high rates of incarceration of Aboriginal adults and young people, the 'tough on crime' approach feels too much like a 'tough on Aboriginal people' approach," he said. Catherine Liddle, chief executive for SNAICC, the peak body for Indigenous children, said criminalising young people does not address crime rates or create safer communities. "The evidence is very clear that the younger a child is when they are locked up, the more likely it is that they will have ongoing criminal justice system involvement," she said. Ms Liddle said investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion programs was proven to interrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment. "Tough on crime" reforms across Australia are proving to be tough on Aboriginal people, according to advocates examining rising incarceration rates. A two-day Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs is being held as the Northern Territory government unrolls new measures in a $1.5 billion law and order crackdown. But punitive approaches undermine children's human rights and makes contact with the justice system for vulnerable young people more likely, the NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk says. In her jurisdiction, 85 per cent of children who had previously spent time in custody were returned to prison within 12 months, Ms Musk said. "If you're thinking sending a kid to prison will teach them a lesson that will stop them from committing a crime, well, the data shows otherwise," she told AAP. Ms Musk and fellow children's guardians and commissioners from across Australia are urging federal, state and territory governments to address a "disturbing erosion of hard-won safeguards" as tougher youth crime legislation is introduced across the nation. "These children don't belong in the justice system, which is punitive, focused on control and largely a product of harmful, custodial conditions like the use of restraint, like separation and isolation practices," Ms Musk said. In Queensland, children as young as 10 can face adult jail time for a range of offences after the state government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The NT government recently passed tougher bail laws, leading to a surge in the territory's prison population. The territory also plans to retrain dozens of public housing and transit officers as police public safety officers armed with guns, a move slammed by Indigenous and legal advocacy groups. Tougher bail laws have also been introduced in Victoria and NSW, despite warnings from Aboriginal legal services more Indigenous young people would be imprisoned. The NT's incarceration rate is reportedly the second-highest in the world, only behind El Salvador, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner says. "Almost unbelievably, governments in other parts of the country appear to be racing to catch up," he said in a statement. Tyson Carmody, the founder and director of Kings Narrative, a support service for Aboriginal men, said punitive policies were not a solution. "With the high rates of incarceration of Aboriginal adults and young people, the 'tough on crime' approach feels too much like a 'tough on Aboriginal people' approach," he said. Catherine Liddle, chief executive for SNAICC, the peak body for Indigenous children, said criminalising young people does not address crime rates or create safer communities. "The evidence is very clear that the younger a child is when they are locked up, the more likely it is that they will have ongoing criminal justice system involvement," she said. Ms Liddle said investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion programs was proven to interrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Jailing is failing: youth prison numbers under scrutiny
"Tough on crime" reforms across Australia are proving to be tough on Aboriginal people, according to advocates examining rising incarceration rates. A two-day Reintegration Puzzle Conference in Mparntwe/Alice Springs is being held as the Northern Territory government unrolls new measures in a $1.5 billion law and order crackdown. But punitive approaches undermine children's human rights and makes contact with the justice system for vulnerable young people more likely, the NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk says. In her jurisdiction, 85 per cent of children who had previously spent time in custody were returned to prison within 12 months, Ms Musk said. "If you're thinking sending a kid to prison will teach them a lesson that will stop them from committing a crime, well, the data shows otherwise," she told AAP. Ms Musk and fellow children's guardians and commissioners from across Australia are urging federal, state and territory governments to address a "disturbing erosion of hard-won safeguards" as tougher youth crime legislation is introduced across the nation. "These children don't belong in the justice system, which is punitive, focused on control and largely a product of harmful, custodial conditions like the use of restraint, like separation and isolation practices," Ms Musk said. In Queensland, children as young as 10 can face adult jail time for a range of offences after the state government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The NT government recently passed tougher bail laws, leading to a surge in the territory's prison population. The territory also plans to retrain dozens of public housing and transit officers as police public safety officers armed with guns, a move slammed by Indigenous and legal advocacy groups. Tougher bail laws have also been introduced in Victoria and NSW, despite warnings from Aboriginal legal services more Indigenous young people would be imprisoned. The NT's incarceration rate is reportedly the second-highest in the world, only behind El Salvador, Justice Reform Initiative chair Robert Tickner says. "Almost unbelievably, governments in other parts of the country appear to be racing to catch up," he said in a statement. Tyson Carmody, the founder and director of Kings Narrative, a support service for Aboriginal men, said punitive policies were not a solution. "With the high rates of incarceration of Aboriginal adults and young people, the 'tough on crime' approach feels too much like a 'tough on Aboriginal people' approach," he said. Catherine Liddle, chief executive for SNAICC, the peak body for Indigenous children, said criminalising young people does not address crime rates or create safer communities. "The evidence is very clear that the younger a child is when they are locked up, the more likely it is that they will have ongoing criminal justice system involvement," she said. Ms Liddle said investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion programs was proven to interrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment.
The Advertiser
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Chief minister insists causes of crime being addressed
More than $500 million will go to one territory's prison system to keep pace with tough new bail laws but the chief minister insists her government is also addressing the root causes of crime. The Country Liberal Party government's first budget for the Northern Territory delivered on Tuesday features a record $1.34 billion spend on police, corrections and justice. Corrections services will get more than $500 million to ensure extra beds and services to cope with a boosted jail population resulting from the tougher bail laws, with youth offenders mainly impacted. 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. But Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro insists her government is taking decisive action to break the cycle of crime by addressing its causes through a package of early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. "You don't fix crime by only responding after it happens. You prevent it by investing in addressing the root causes of crime," she said in a statement on Tuesday. The budget had a strong emphasis on youth engagement, family safety and community wellbeing, she said. Ms Finocchiaro said her government was driving reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children attend. That involved referring parents to income support if they deprived their children of education, school attendance officers issuing infringement notices for chronic non-attendance and more school-based police officers to promote safety. The budget also delivers $204 million for family support services and $20.9 million for child protection, $138.6 million for out-of-home care and $73.2 million to support homelessness services. It includes $6.6 million per annum in ongoing funding for the Circuit Breaker program operating in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. This initiative targets young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice or child protection systems, offering case management and family support, supervised accommodation where needed, local supervision to keep at-risk youth off the streets and keeping kids in school and families accountable. To tackle overcrowding and poor housing conditions the government is investing in up to 2700 new homes and a major repairs and maintenance program under the jointly funded $4 billion remote housing agreement. A much-loved Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing on April 23 inspired what are being billed as Australia's toughest bail laws. The NT government brought in the reforms barely a week after 71-year-old Linford Feick was allegedly stabbed to death by a teenager who was on bail for "serious matters" and has since been charged with murder. When the bail laws were passed Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Labor would support them "in good faith" but they were a "band-aid solution". Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri said the record spend on law and order was "a clear example of getting the policy and resource settings completely wrong". "The NT remains Australia's most imprisoned jurisdiction, with an incarceration rate three times greater than anywhere else in Australia – and that number continues to rise due to punitive legislative settings," she said. More than $500 million will go to one territory's prison system to keep pace with tough new bail laws but the chief minister insists her government is also addressing the root causes of crime. The Country Liberal Party government's first budget for the Northern Territory delivered on Tuesday features a record $1.34 billion spend on police, corrections and justice. Corrections services will get more than $500 million to ensure extra beds and services to cope with a boosted jail population resulting from the tougher bail laws, with youth offenders mainly impacted. 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. But Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro insists her government is taking decisive action to break the cycle of crime by addressing its causes through a package of early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. "You don't fix crime by only responding after it happens. You prevent it by investing in addressing the root causes of crime," she said in a statement on Tuesday. The budget had a strong emphasis on youth engagement, family safety and community wellbeing, she said. Ms Finocchiaro said her government was driving reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children attend. That involved referring parents to income support if they deprived their children of education, school attendance officers issuing infringement notices for chronic non-attendance and more school-based police officers to promote safety. The budget also delivers $204 million for family support services and $20.9 million for child protection, $138.6 million for out-of-home care and $73.2 million to support homelessness services. It includes $6.6 million per annum in ongoing funding for the Circuit Breaker program operating in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. This initiative targets young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice or child protection systems, offering case management and family support, supervised accommodation where needed, local supervision to keep at-risk youth off the streets and keeping kids in school and families accountable. To tackle overcrowding and poor housing conditions the government is investing in up to 2700 new homes and a major repairs and maintenance program under the jointly funded $4 billion remote housing agreement. A much-loved Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing on April 23 inspired what are being billed as Australia's toughest bail laws. The NT government brought in the reforms barely a week after 71-year-old Linford Feick was allegedly stabbed to death by a teenager who was on bail for "serious matters" and has since been charged with murder. When the bail laws were passed Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Labor would support them "in good faith" but they were a "band-aid solution". Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri said the record spend on law and order was "a clear example of getting the policy and resource settings completely wrong". "The NT remains Australia's most imprisoned jurisdiction, with an incarceration rate three times greater than anywhere else in Australia – and that number continues to rise due to punitive legislative settings," she said. More than $500 million will go to one territory's prison system to keep pace with tough new bail laws but the chief minister insists her government is also addressing the root causes of crime. The Country Liberal Party government's first budget for the Northern Territory delivered on Tuesday features a record $1.34 billion spend on police, corrections and justice. Corrections services will get more than $500 million to ensure extra beds and services to cope with a boosted jail population resulting from the tougher bail laws, with youth offenders mainly impacted. 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. But Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro insists her government is taking decisive action to break the cycle of crime by addressing its causes through a package of early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. "You don't fix crime by only responding after it happens. You prevent it by investing in addressing the root causes of crime," she said in a statement on Tuesday. The budget had a strong emphasis on youth engagement, family safety and community wellbeing, she said. Ms Finocchiaro said her government was driving reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children attend. That involved referring parents to income support if they deprived their children of education, school attendance officers issuing infringement notices for chronic non-attendance and more school-based police officers to promote safety. The budget also delivers $204 million for family support services and $20.9 million for child protection, $138.6 million for out-of-home care and $73.2 million to support homelessness services. It includes $6.6 million per annum in ongoing funding for the Circuit Breaker program operating in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. This initiative targets young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice or child protection systems, offering case management and family support, supervised accommodation where needed, local supervision to keep at-risk youth off the streets and keeping kids in school and families accountable. To tackle overcrowding and poor housing conditions the government is investing in up to 2700 new homes and a major repairs and maintenance program under the jointly funded $4 billion remote housing agreement. A much-loved Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing on April 23 inspired what are being billed as Australia's toughest bail laws. The NT government brought in the reforms barely a week after 71-year-old Linford Feick was allegedly stabbed to death by a teenager who was on bail for "serious matters" and has since been charged with murder. When the bail laws were passed Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Labor would support them "in good faith" but they were a "band-aid solution". Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri said the record spend on law and order was "a clear example of getting the policy and resource settings completely wrong". "The NT remains Australia's most imprisoned jurisdiction, with an incarceration rate three times greater than anywhere else in Australia – and that number continues to rise due to punitive legislative settings," she said. More than $500 million will go to one territory's prison system to keep pace with tough new bail laws but the chief minister insists her government is also addressing the root causes of crime. The Country Liberal Party government's first budget for the Northern Territory delivered on Tuesday features a record $1.34 billion spend on police, corrections and justice. Corrections services will get more than $500 million to ensure extra beds and services to cope with a boosted jail population resulting from the tougher bail laws, with youth offenders mainly impacted. 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. But Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro insists her government is taking decisive action to break the cycle of crime by addressing its causes through a package of early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. "You don't fix crime by only responding after it happens. You prevent it by investing in addressing the root causes of crime," she said in a statement on Tuesday. The budget had a strong emphasis on youth engagement, family safety and community wellbeing, she said. Ms Finocchiaro said her government was driving reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children attend. That involved referring parents to income support if they deprived their children of education, school attendance officers issuing infringement notices for chronic non-attendance and more school-based police officers to promote safety. The budget also delivers $204 million for family support services and $20.9 million for child protection, $138.6 million for out-of-home care and $73.2 million to support homelessness services. It includes $6.6 million per annum in ongoing funding for the Circuit Breaker program operating in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine. This initiative targets young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice or child protection systems, offering case management and family support, supervised accommodation where needed, local supervision to keep at-risk youth off the streets and keeping kids in school and families accountable. To tackle overcrowding and poor housing conditions the government is investing in up to 2700 new homes and a major repairs and maintenance program under the jointly funded $4 billion remote housing agreement. A much-loved Darwin store owner's fatal stabbing on April 23 inspired what are being billed as Australia's toughest bail laws. The NT government brought in the reforms barely a week after 71-year-old Linford Feick was allegedly stabbed to death by a teenager who was on bail for "serious matters" and has since been charged with murder. When the bail laws were passed Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Labor would support them "in good faith" but they were a "band-aid solution". Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri said the record spend on law and order was "a clear example of getting the policy and resource settings completely wrong". "The NT remains Australia's most imprisoned jurisdiction, with an incarceration rate three times greater than anywhere else in Australia – and that number continues to rise due to punitive legislative settings," she said.
