Latest news with #Northern Territory
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
NT to reinstate use of spit hoods in youth detention, eight years after royal commission sparked ban
The Northern Territory government has flagged it will reinstate the use of spit hoods on young people in youth detention centres, almost eight years after the practice was banned. The proposal is one of several changes to the Youth Justice Act 2005 and Youth Justice Regulations 2006 expected to be introduced and debated in NT parliament this week by the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government. In a statement on Monday, the government said the proposed changes would also include: The CLP pledged during last year's NT election to reintroduce the use of spit hoods on youths if elected to government. On Monday, NT Deputy Chief Minister and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said the legislative changes would be introduced to parliament as a matter of "urgency", following the stabbing at the weekend of a 15-year-old boy at the Royal Darwin Show. Mr Maley said the "community have had enough" when it came to youth crime in the territory. "This is another piece of legislation we're going to do to make sure Territorians can go to work, go to the show and live in the Northern Territory safely," he said. NT Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said the proposed amendments were about ensuring "safety and security" for staff and young people in youth detention centres. "These amendments this week are about making sure our staff have the tools, the powers and the procedures to make sure that environment is safe and secure,' he said. "We're wanting to see a change to the past where our officers have been exposed to risk, our officers have been exposed to assault and harm, and our youth detention centres have been damaged and destroyed. Controversy over the NT's use of spit hoods received significant media attention in 2016 following an ABC Four Corners report into the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, which led to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing a royal commission into juvenile justice and child protection in the territory. In 2017, following the federal government's formal endorsement of a United Nations protocol against torture and inhumane punishments, the NT government stopped the use of spit hoods and restraint chairs in youth detention centres. However, it was not until 2022 that the use of spit hoods for youth in police custody was also banned by the then-Labor government, though the ban was never formalised in legislation. In a statement on Monday, an NT Police Force (NTPF) spokesperson confirmed that since October 2024, spit hoods had once again been made available to use on youths in police watch houses and cells. "The NTPF have strict policies in place for their use", the spokesperson said. NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk said the proposed amendments to the Youth Justice Act reflected a "failure" by the government "to meet with key stakeholders, including legal and social service experts". "It goes against all the evidence of what actually works to try to reduce challenging behaviours, particularly in a custodial setting," she said. "We're the only jurisdiction that is now going back to using spit hoods on children. Ms Musk said she was also concerned about the planned change to ensure detention was no longer a last resort. "[It] is against international law, it's against child rights. It can lead to unjust dispositions by the court, that is not able to then balance the needs of that child against other considerations," she said. Opposition Leader Selena Uibo labelled the government's decision a "reactive, knee-jerk response" that would not have a "holistic impact when it comes to improving community safety". "Everything that these millions and millions of dollars of royal commissions or reports have shown not to do, the CLP is doing," she said. In a statement, the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls also condemned the proposed amendments and called for "the urgent withdrawal of this legislation". "These proposed changes represent a punitive attack on the rights, dignity, and lives of children in the Northern Territory," said Debbie Kilroy OAM, chief executive of Sisters Inside. Ms Kilroy labelled the re-introduction of spit hoods as a "grotesque failure of leadership", and cited the interstate cases of Wayne Fella Morrison and Selesa Taifaifa — who both died following incidents involving the use of spit hoods — as examples of their "deadly consequences". "Let us be clear: spit hoods are instruments of torture. They are used to degrade, control and silence," Ms Kilroy said. Ms Kilroy also criticised the planned removal of the principle of detention as a last resort. "Many of the children who appear before the courts are themselves victims — victims of violence, poverty, neglect, racism and state failure," she said. "They are not born 'offenders', they are criminalised by a system that was never designed to protect them." The proposed amendments will be introduced to the NT parliament on Tuesday.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves releases protest song from Yuendumu
Protest songs have a powerful way of demanding our attention. A new song titled Karrinjala Muajarri Mi, by Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves and Red Dirt Blues, does just that. The title of the song is its haunting refrain, which Mr Hargraves explains means "ceasefire". "That is so, so extremely important to our young generations today, to understand it and be able to be proud of what's in that song," Mr Hargraves says. It is the context of the track, described as a song from the remote community of Yuendumu, that makes it so poignant. WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names of Indigenous people who have died. Mr Hargraves's voice has been one of the loudest advocating against the use of police guns in Aboriginal communities after the killing of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu by police officer Zachary Rolfe in 2019. In 2022, after Mr Rolfe was found not guilty of all charges related to the killing, Mr Hargraves looked into cameras and cried "karrinjala muajarri mi, no guns … we don't want no guns, enough is enough". This month, when Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage delivered her findings in the long-running inquest into Kumunjayi Walker's death, Mr Hargraves told reporters that "we need to let the world know what has been happening to us". In May this year, Kumanjayi White, also from Yuendumu, died in police custody. He was Mr Hargraves's grandson. The family is still calling for an independent investigation into his death. The opening line of the new track, which is set to be released in August, declares "jails are full of our children" and is inspired by the elder's disappointment in the criminal justice system. Julien Poulson, from the band Red Dirt Blues, says that when he first heard these lines from Mr Hargraves, he knew they had to be turned into music to spread the message. They collaborated on the track during a workshop in Alice Springs. "I was calling together songwriters and only a few people turned up, but the ones that did are giants," he says. Mr Poulson then reached out to Berlin artist Professor Kinski to produce the song, which uniquely blends desert rock with electronica. Mr Hargraves says it is significant that the song's powerful message is delivered in Warlpiri. "The most important thing that happens today is using strong Warlpiri, strong words that have been used in the past, like the old people used it, because they needed to maintain the language," he says. The track also features a rap from Mr Hargraves's grandson, Tommy Hargraves, whose stage name is Tommy Gunn. His lyrics are as stark as they are striking, with lines including: "They killing my people, they putting my children in prison, lock 'em up without question, they find us guilty for having black skin." He says his words for the song came naturally after his grandfather sent him an early version, as though they were just waiting to be written. "I hope this song achieves the listeners, because this song is a message, and I hope that people listen to the struggles of my people," the young rapper says. "I hope this song touches people." The elder Mr Hargraves says he wants his protest song to deliver a strong message. "It's clear: ceasefire," he says.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal government under pressure to intervene in NT incarceration 'crisis'
One of Australia's largest Aboriginal legal services is calling on the federal government to intervene in what it is calling an incarceration "crisis" in the Northern Territory. The NT's prison population has soared to unprecedented levels in recent months, with prisoners locked up inside police watch houses for days on end due to a lack of beds at correctional facilities. In one recent incident, an 11-year-old Aboriginal girl who was initially denied bail was detained overnight inside Palmerston's overcrowded police watch house, where the lights remain on 24 hours a day. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency's (NAAJA) acting chief executive, Anthony Beven, has called on the federal government to suspend Commonwealth funding for remote policing and other justice-related operations until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. Since the Country Liberal Party came to power last year, the NT government has lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 back to 10 and introduced tougher bail laws for both adults and children. Mr Beven said the measures were not working to reduce crime and were leading to large numbers of Aboriginal people being incarcerated. "One of the unique things we have here in the Northern Territory is that the Commonwealth actually funds the Northern Territory police for remote policing and other options," Mr Beven said. The NT Police Force was budgeted to receive about $50 million in Commonwealth funding in 2024-25. Mr Beven also said NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had so far refused to meet with NAAJA and other Aboriginal leaders to discuss strategies aimed at reducing crime. In a statement, Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Marndirri McCarthy said: "There is something very wrong with the Northern Territory justice system when an 11-year-old girl is held in an adult police watch house for two days and one night." "It is primarily Northern Territory bail laws that are driving this issue," she said. Ms McCarthy said the NT government had previously committed to reducing the incarceration rates of First Nations people under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby slammed Mr Beven's comments as "utterly absurd". "Threatening to cut essential funding to remote policing is counterproductive, dangerous, and undermines community confidence," Ms Boothby said in a statement. "There is no alternative: those who break the law will be arrested. "Corrections will continue to expand capacity to ensure those who are remanded or sentenced have a bed, because that's what the community expects." Ms Boothby said the adult prison in Berrimah, on Darwin's outskirts, would be expanded to accommodate an extra 238 prison beds by mid-August. Ms Finocchiaro has been contacted for comment. The situation in the Northern Territory comes amid growing international concern about youth justice in Australia. In a letter to the federal government in May, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert K Barume, singled out the NT's record on human rights. "Several states and the Northern Territory are announcing new 'tougher' criminal legislation, which seem to give little regard to international human rights standards," they wrote. The letter said there was an "ongoing pattern" of First Nations children being disproportionately incarcerated, noting that in the Northern Territory, Indigenous children are 32 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous children. It also said the NT government's decision to reduce the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 was "a step backwards", and criticised the lifting of a ban on spit hoods being used on children. "Spit hoods … are considered inherently in violation of the prohibition of torture and/or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," they wrote. The federal government has not responded to the letter in the requested 60-day timeframe.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Discovery in remote bushland prompts renewed calls to combat Aussie crisis
For millions of years, Australia evolved in near-isolation, its unique ecosystems untouched by the threats posed by introduced species from overseas. But, when Europeans arrived, that all changed. Now, we have one of the worst track records in the world when it comes to invasive pests, with everything from cane toads, foxes, feral pigs and deer running amok across unimaginably large parts of the country. While some species generate a lot of attention, others often escape the spotlight. That's mainly been the case for feral donkeys in Australia, despite there being between two to five million living in the country, according to the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. Feral donkeys were originally introduced in the 19th century for transport and work in remote areas, particularly in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, but after becoming redundant with mechanisation, many were released or escaped and have since established large populations. This month, a herd was spotted in Victoria, much farther south than their usual range. Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University, Euan Ritchie, said that while in this case, it's more likely the group escaped from a nearby property rather than an "expansion into the area from feral populations". But, he warned it's "concerning" whenever invasive animals are detected in regions where they don't already occur. In an interview with Yahoo, he said it's especially alarming "when it happens in conservation areas such as national parks". "Such incidents need to be acted on swiftly to ensure populations don't become established and to minimise any environmental harm," Ritchie warned. What damage do feral donkeys do to Australia's environment? Ritchie explained that feral donkeys can cause a range of issues, some potentially devastating to already fragile ecosystems. He said their impact includes overgrazing, which reduces plant cover and diversity while promoting the spread of woody, unpalatable species; the dispersal of weeds via their fur and droppings; soil compaction and erosion; the risk of transmitting parasites and diseases to other animals; and competition with native wildlife — such as kangaroos, wallaroos, and wallabies — for food and access to waterholes. As a result of more open vegetation, it can make it easier for feral cats and foxes to hunt native wildlife, Ritchie added. "Further, Australia has over 1000 species of threatened plants, and grazing by introduced and feral herbivores, including donkeys, increases their risk of extinction," he said. To make matters worse, feral donkeys are "generalist and very hardy herbivores" and have the potential to invade most terrestrial ecosystems in the country. "Given that Australia's ecosystems are already under severe pressure from a range of threats, we must do all we can to prevent any further new and compounding impacts, such as those posed by the spread and increased abundance of feral donkeys." How can the public fight back? Across the vast areas where feral donkeys are found, the most effective control methods include aerial and ground shooting, exclusion fencing, and — where terrain allows — localised trapping and mustering. Another technique involves using "Judas donkeys" — sterilised donkeys fitted with tracking devices that are released to join wild herds, making it easier for authorities to locate and cull the rest of the group. But, because they occur over "very large areas of arid and northern Australia, much of which is in very remote and rugged" country, this is difficult, with little to no road access to some regions. "They also occur in very large numbers in some areas, meaning control efforts need to be substantial and sustained in order to meaningfully reduce their numbers and impacts," Ritchie said. He said this highlights the essential need for early intervention when it comes to invasive species. "It's far cheaper and easier to control a population of invasive animals before they become established, abundant, and widespread. Donkeys are no different in this respect. Intervening early also minimises any potential harm to the environment and agriculture," Ritchie said. In recent decades, it's estimated that in excess of $80 million has been spent on donkey eradication efforts, with over 500,000 killed in the Kimberley Region of WA alone since the 1970s. "All invasive species can potentially have significant impacts on Australia's wildlife and ecosystems, and they can compound other threats," Ritchie added. 🎣 Plea after fisherman fined $2000 for 'doing the wrong thing' 🏡 Worrying find in suburban town highlights growing problem 🌳 Aussies urged to know telltale sign as pest threatens every state In some areas, ecosystems might be affected by multiple invasive, large herbivores and omnivores, meaning the total grazing pressure on vegetation is unsustainable and can lead to biodiversity decline and extinction. "In northern Australia, for example, some areas have feral donkeys, feral horses, feral cattle, feral water buffalo and feral pigs, all in the same area. In arid Australia, feral camels, feral donkeys, feral horses, feral cattle, feral goats and introduced European rabbits may all co-occur," Ritchie said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
21-07-2025
- ABC News
Falling palm tree kills four-year-old girl in tragic 'freak event' at Darwin
A falling palm tree has struck and killed a four-year-old girl playing in a Darwin backyard, in what's been described as "a freak" accident. In a statement, NT Police said emergency services were called to the Tiwi yard about 1:55pm on Saturday afternoon. They tried to take the girl to a nearby hospital for treatment, but she could not be saved. "Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital; however, she was pronounced deceased prior to arrival," the statement said. The tree also struck an 11-year-old boy, but police said his injuries were "non-life-threatening". NT police on Saturday had said the girl who died was seven years old, but on Monday confirmed she was four years old. Police said its investigations were "ongoing", but they did not believe the incident to be suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner. A number of tree-related deaths have been recorded in the NT over time. Almost two years ago, a falling tree branch at Darwin's botanic gardens struck and killed a South African woman as she was walking with her partner. In 2013, a falling palm tree south of Darwin struck and killed a Coomalie Council worker at Batchelor. NT-born arborist Ben Kenyon said, although the exact circumstances that caused the tree to fall in this incident were unclear, it was a tragedy. "Quite often, it is a bit of a freak event. "[My] thoughts go out to the family for sure — it's tragic." Mr Kenyon, who runs an arboriculture business in Melbourne but frequently visits the NT, said it was important to monitor and maintain backyard trees, particularly in tropical areas such as the Top End. "A fungi getting into the trunk of a tree in the Top End can kill it within 3-12 months — a very similar fungi in a similar tree in the southern states may take 5-10 years," he said. "It's just far, far quicker with the growth rates that you have and the humidity and the style of tree that you have in the Top End."
