NT pushes safety change
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The NT Government says its latest crime reforms are aimed at worker safety.
In its first five days of Parliament since the August election, the Country Liberal Party (CLP) passed measures under its ‘Reducing Crime’ agenda, targeting workplace safety and youth detention.
The reforms include Declan’s Law, a lower age of criminal responsibility, and stricter laws on ram raids, nuisance drinking, and online crime boasting.
Among the changes is legislation imposing mandatory minimum penalties for workplace assaults:
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Frontline Workers: Assaults on police or emergency workers causing harm or involving spitting now carry a mandatory three-month jail term, even for first-time offenders.
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General Workers: Repeat offenders who harm workers will face mandatory jail, while first-time offenders will receive a mandatory Community Corrections Order, requiring community service.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said that the laws are meant to deter offenders, saying; “People who do the wrong thing will face consequences”.
In a bid to increase adult prison capacity by 50 per cent over four years, the NT government plans to move youth detainees from Alice Springs to Darwin.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley believes the relocation will enhance rehabilitation, saying; “[It will] make sure those children have a better choice in life and hopefully stop the cycle of reoffending”.
However, Kirsten Wilson from the Justice Reform Initiative has warned that moving young detainees 1,500 kilometres from their communities could lead to more reoffending, as they lose access to local support systems.
The government aims to repurpose the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre for low-security adult prisoners by December, despite a 2017 Royal Commission’s recommendation for its closure.
Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley says there is a pressing need for additional capacity.
Future projects include modular prison blocks, new women’s facilities, and youth boot camps. Costings are set to be outlined in the next budget.
The government says the rapid changes reflect its commitment to worker safety, but critics argue they may strain social services and deepen existing issues.