Latest news with #MarieClareBoothby
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
NT's Litchfield National Park to include Robin Falls as part of 30,000-hectare expansion
The Northern Territory's Litchfield National Park is set to grow by 20 per cent, in the largest addition to the popular tourist attraction in more than two decades. The NT government has purchased Silkwood, a 30,000-hectare parcel of land that borders Litchfield's south-east boundary, which it says will give Territorians and visitors more places to camp, four-wheel drive, swim and hunt. The $7.5 million property is located 120 kilometres from Darwin near the regional town of Adelaide River, and includes the popular Robin Falls. The government says the acquisition — the national park's biggest expansion in 25 years — will also make untouched waterfalls, gorges, hot springs and 4WD tracks available to visitors. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the multi-million-dollar deal would conserve "what makes the territory special". Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne said the purchase would secure long-term environmental protection for the pristine region. "30,000 hectares of escarpments, woodlands and wetlands are being returned to public hands, protecting territory ecosystems and wildlife while opening up a range of incredible new recreational opportunities," he said. "This isn't just a map change — this is a transformational and visionary investment in our lifestyle, livability, and landscape." Parks and Wildlife Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would work to identify opportunities within the new area, including "a new dedicated hunting reserve". "Silkwood has been on the market since last year, and there were real concerns that a private sale could limit future access." The announcement follows a dip in NT tourism post-COVID, but recent data from the Australian government's trade and investment commission suggests the territory might be bouncing back. While most jurisdictions recorded a decrease in domestic travellers during the March 2025 quarter, the NT saw a 34 per cent increase — up 45,000 trips compared to the March 2024 quarter. According to the NT government, more than 250,000 people visit Litchfield National Park each year to see much-loved sites including Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls. The national park's southern expansion is expected to boost those numbers further, which the government said would create "new opportunities for local tourism, services, and economic growth" in nearby Adelaide River. Publican Tim Carter, who owns the Adelaide River Inn Tourist Park, described the expansion as "great for the Territorians that love to get out there every weekend". "There's worries of people purchasing [regions like Silkwood] and closing them up, so for this to be open to all the punters, will be great." He said the announcement came during a "huge" tourism season that has kept his business "flat-out" during the dry.
ABC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
NT government to reverse some anti-discrimination law protections amid LGBTQIA+ community pushback
The Northern Territory government has back-pedalled on plans to scrap hate speech protections in the NT's Anti-Discrimination Act. But the territory's anti-discrimination commissioner — whose office handles discrimination complaints — says the government's new proposal will still "water down" those protections. Earlier this year, the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government announced it would scrap a clause added to the act by the previous Labor government, known as the "vilification" clause. That clause made it unlawful to publicly "offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate" another person or group because of a personal characteristic such as race, gender or sexuality. The plan to revoke the vilification clause was supported by faith groups but has attracted outcry from LGBTQIA+ groups and anti-discrimination bodies. At a Pride March in Darwin city on Saturday, advocates gathered outside NT parliament calling for the current anti-discrimination laws to be protected. A day later, the government announced the vilification clause would be replaced, rather than removed, in response to community feedback. In a statement, a spokesperson for Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the revised wording would prohibit conduct that "incites hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule" based on a person's identity. "The key reforms will remove unclear, vague terms introduced by Labor, such as 'offend' and 'insult' and replace them with clearer standard that focuses on real harm — consistent with frameworks already in place elsewhere in Australia," they said. During senate estimates on Monday, NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Jeswynn Yogaratnam said while he had not seen a draft bill yet, he argued the vilification provisions should not be changed at all. He said the current protections were the "strongest we have here in Australia". "It's highly visionary in terms of where we're going with that reform," he said. During estimates, Ms Boothby said the government was "reigniting the flames of free speech". She argued the current wording allowed people to "take legal action just because they found something offensive and drag you through a complaints process". But Mr Yogaratnam said that was not the case, because an objective legal test is applied to determine whether conduct can be considered offensive. He said the commission had received 46 complaints under the new vilification provision since it came into effect in mid-2023, but only three had been accepted. Top End Pride committee member and emergency doctor, Bhushan Joshi, worries the new bill will make it easier to "willingly or knowingly in public put someone down" on the basis of their gender, sexuality or other attributes. "I feel … they want to clarify to make it easier to offend, insult or humiliate other people," he said. The government said it had consulted a range of community groups including LGBTQIA+ groups before changing its plans for the law, but Dr Joshi questioned the scope of that consultation. He said Top End Pride had not directly been approached for consultation, but some members had provided feedback. Dr Joshi said the Anti-Discrimination Act was a better way to deal with hate speech and vilification than the criminal system. "This is more like a mediation process — the Anti-Discrimination Commission isn't out to 'get' you, it's out to make society a fairer and just society for everybody," he said. The previous Labor government also banned religious schools from being able to only hire staff who shared the same faith, as part of its reforms to the act in late 2022. However the current government has remained committed to restoring that right for religious schools, despite opposition from LGBTQIA+ groups and the NT Anti-Discrimination Commission. Ms Boothby told senate estimates the new laws would allow religious schools to prioritise hiring staff of the same faith, rather than exempting schools from discriminating against other job candidates altogether. "We promised the community we would make these changes and we are now putting in place those protections because we absolutely believe in religious freedoms," she said. Mr Yogaratnam said the changes were "redundant" as religious freedoms in the workplace were already protected under other parts of the legislation. When contacted by the ABC, the Australian Christian Lobby's (ACL) NT representative Nicholas Lay said he could not comment as he had not seen the draft bill. The ACL supported the CLP's previous plan to scrap the vilification clause and reintroduce religious schools' rights to only hire staff of the same faith. Changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act are set to be introduced to parliament next month and debated by the year's end.
ABC News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
NT police racism review funding redirected to Legal Aid, attorney-general announces in budget estimates
Almost four years after the Northern Territory government committed to reviewing systemic racism within its departments, the attorney-general has announced a racism review into NT police has been scrapped. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names of Indigenous people who have died, used with the permission of their families. Upon signing the bipartisan Aboriginal Justice Agreement in 2021, the then-NT Labor government pledged to "identify and eliminate systemic racism in government agencies ... that directly or indirectly discriminates against Aboriginal Territorians engaged in the justice system". The coronial inquest into the police shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker was subsequently told in 2023 that every NT government agency would be examined. But during budget estimates on Monday, Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said not one departmental racism review had been finalised, with work beginning at only one agency — the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (DLI). Ms Boothby — a member of the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government elected last year — also said funds allocated to complete a racism review into the NT Police Force (NTPF) had been redirected. The NT's anti-discrimination commissioner had initially been allocated $300,000 to undertake the proposed police review, Ms Boothby said. "The $300,000 that was committed by the previous Labor government to do the [police] racism review, we had to redirect [those funds] to Legal Aid NT to keep them sustainable," she said. "It was really important that Legal Aid had the funding that they needed to continue work, so that we did have representation in our courts for people. "It was a really tough decision that we had to make at the end of last year to find that money somewhere." Ms Boothby said although the anti-discrimination commissioner's review into police racism had now been scrapped, "work is being led by Leanne Liddle ... covering a broad range of initiatives" within the NTPF. Last August, when former NT police commissioner Michael Murphy delivered an apology to First Nations people, it was announced Ms Liddle — the former director of the NT government's Aboriginal Justice Unit — would develop an internal anti-racism strategy through her current role in the NTPF. The scrapping of the proposed review comes amid concerns about NT police investigating the death of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in May. Police have rejected calls for an independent investigation into his death, saying the NTPF operates "under strict protocols and with full transparency". Allegations of racism within the police force were the subject of a joint investigation by both the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption and NTPF in 2024. The investigation was sparked by "racist" police awards that emerged during the coronial inquest into Kumanjayi Walker's death. It found evidence of historical racism in the police force, and called the awards "evidently on their face racist", but found no further evidence of racist behaviours beyond 2015. The joint investigation was criticised by both the NT's anti-discrimination commissioner and a lawyer representing three Aboriginal police officers in a human rights complaint against the NTPF. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has repeatedly said the CLP does not believe systemic racism exists within the NTPF. While revealing the NTPF racism review had been scrapped, Ms Boothby also said the only departmental review to have begun — within the DLI — had still not been finalised. That is despite a department spokesperson saying in March 2024 the agency was planning to release recommendations in "the second quarter of 2024". "Only one agency [has] started and I believe that review is still not even finalised," Ms Boothby said of the DLI review. "There was work being done prior to the [August 2024 NT] election. "That [DLI review] work was paused during caretaker mode." Independent MLA Justine Davis subsequently asked Ms Boothby whether the DLI review was "sitting somewhere". "To your knowledge, the [DLI] review has been paused and none of the others, to your knowledge, have commenced?," Ms Davis said. Ms Boothby replied: "That's my understanding."
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Mandatory sentencing reinstated for some DVO breaches in NT after bill passes parliament
Perpetrators who threaten or cause harm while breaching a domestic violence order (DVO) will receive a mandatory minimum sentence, under new laws brought forward by the Northern Territory government. The Country Liberal Party (CLP) used its majority in the NT's only parliamentary chamber to legislate the changes on Tuesday, despite widespread disapproval from the domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) sector. The legislation restores a mandatory minimum sentence provision repealed by the former Labor government in 2022. A CLP government spokesperson said under the new laws, mandatory sentencing would apply where an offender "breaches their DVO for the first time and threatens or causes harm". "However, it may not apply in circumstances where a person has breached a DVO for the first time and has not caused or threatened to cause harm," they said. Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said mandatory sentencing would also apply for repeat DVO breaches where harm was not threatened or caused. She said prison sentences for the breaches would be determined by the judiciary. "It's set for the courts as a minimum of a term of imprisonment," Ms Boothby said of the changes. "That will be up to the courts to decide what [the term of imprisonment] is." The legislation also expands the maximum sentence for a DVO breach from two to five years, and enhances victims' access to information about offenders. It is likely to see an increase to the NT's record prison population, which has risen by more than 500 since the CLP was elected last August. The bill was introduced to parliament in March amid criticism from several women's legal services, and subsequently referred to the NT's Legislative Scrutiny Committee. The committee received 21 submissions, all of which opposed the reintroduction of mandatory sentencing and claimed there was no evidence to suggest it prevented domestic violence-related offences. Another concern highlighted was the misidentification of Indigenous women as perpetrators in violent relationships. Domestic violence survivor Holly Supple-Gurruwiwi said Aboriginal women who were not "the perfect victim" often received reciprocal DVOs along with their partners. "That then allows the victim of domestic violence to become further victimised, and even criminalised," she said. "The mandatory sentencing [for DVO breaches] is going to see the victim, the person most in need of protection, in jail, which seems to be the opposite of what we're trying to achieve." The NT has the highest rates of domestic, sexual and family violence in Australia, with a rate of intimate partner homicide seven times that of the national average. On Tuesday, Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo announced she had begun drafting a private member's bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in the NT. The NT was the first jurisdiction in the world to legalise VAD in 1995, but the law was overruled by the federal government one year later. The territory's right to legislate its own VAD laws was reinstated by the federal government in 2022. In July 2024, an expert advisory panel provided the former NT Labor government with a VAD framework report after undertaking months of community consultation. It made 22 recommendations, including that the NT should implement legislation "broadly consistent" with laws in other Australian states and territories. Despite that, the CLP last week referred the VAD issue to a parliamentary committee for further consultation. The referral followed pressure from independent MLA Justine Davis, who urged the government to take progressive action on VAD. Ms Uibo said enough consultation had already taken place on VAD and the CLP was kicking "the can down the road". "We're ... starting the process to draft a bill that will provide dignity and choice for people who are suffering in the NT," she said of her private member's bill. VAD is legal in all Australian jurisdictions except the NT.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Legal Aid NT board member speaks out about string of resignations following appointment of new director
A long-standing board member of Legal Aid NT (LANT) has claimed the NT attorney-general ignored formal recommendations for the organisation's director position over two rounds of recruitment, before making a "captain's pick" appointment to the role. Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby appointed South Australian barrister Catherine Voumard the director of LANT earlier this month, despite an independent selection panel deeming her unsuitable for the job. The decision prompted three of the LANT board's seven members, and its only non-government members, to resign from the organisation. The ABC has confirmed those three former members are Ali Nur, Tessa Czislowski and the board's chair Duncan McConnel SC. Mr Nur served as the board's community interest representative for nine years, but he resigned last week, saying Ms Boothby's decision to override the panel's recommendations was "unfair" and lacked transparency. He said the LANT director vacancy was first advertised in July last year, when an independent advisory panel headed by Mr McConnel was set up to assess potential candidates. In October, the panel provided Ms Boothby with a report recommending three suitable applicants. Ms Boothby selected one of those three, but the chosen applicant subsequently withdrew her application for the role. The two remaining applicants were rejected by the attorney-general, forcing the panel to reconvene. Mr Nur said the director position was re-advertised in November, at a time when LANT was under significant financial and resourcing stress. He said Ms Voumard was one of 18 applicants in the second application round, but she did not progress to the interview stage. In February, the panel put forward three applicants as suitable for the position, with one selected as a high-calibre candidate. However, Ms Boothby rejected all three in favour of Ms Voumard. "The minister didn't give the board any reason why," Mr Nur said. "We went through a thorough process, impartial process, a fair process … and now the minister says 'it doesn't matter who meets or doesn't meet the criteria, this is my captain's pick'. "I don't think that's good enough." Mr Nur said he felt the move indicated Ms Boothby had "lost faith" in the board. "Sadly, we feel the minister doesn't give a hoot," he said. In a letter sent to Ms Boothby last week, Mr McConnel said he was "deeply disappointed" by her choice to override the panel's decision. "Ms Voumard's appointment appears to have been based on reasons other than merit or otherwise marks a serious departure of judgement between the Attorney and the [Legal Aid] Commission," he wrote. NT Bar Association president Mary Chalmers SC has also called for transparency about the appointment process, saying selections "made contrary to the advice of a panel" could "damage community and organisational confidence". Faced with questions over her decision in NT parliament on Wednesday, Ms Boothby backed the move and said Ms Voumard would bring "diverse experience" to the role. "She's worked for Legal Aid before, she's worked for NAAJA [the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency] before … and guess what? She also worked for Maleys, which is excellent because they are a good, local, large, experienced law firm in the Northern Territory." Maleys Barristers & Solicitors is headed by former Country Liberal Party MLA Peter Maley, who is also the brother of current deputy chief minister Gerard Maley. Mr Nur said LANT was yet to recover from the financial issues it has been facing in recent months. In October, the organisation indicated it would have to cut critical services due to a lack of funding and skyrocketing demand. "We're having absolute difficulty recruiting competent lawyers … we can't retain the ones we've got," Mr Nur said. He said Ms Voumard's appointment risked undermining trust in the organisation at a time when consistent and experienced leadership was essential. "For a healthy, sound justice system, we need a stable, qualified workforce," he said.
