The CLP government’s first NT budget will feature a record spend on law and order. Photo: Wikipedia
The Northern Territory is to spend a record $1.34 billion on policing and courts in its 2025-26 budget.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says law and order remains the top priority for her Country Liberal Party government.
News of the record $1.45bn budgetary spend for Police, Corrections and Attorney-General’s department follows the introduction of what the government says are the strongest bail laws in Australia.
Under the new laws, presumption against bail will extend to serious violence and sexual offences such as indecent touching. A second test for bail will be used, that of court confidence, while detention will no longer be considered as a last resort.
“Since we were elected last August, we have remained laser focused on reducing crime, rebuilding our economy and restoring our lifestyle,” Finocchiaro says.
“This is our CLP government’s first budget. We are continuing to prioritise our reducing crime action with the Northern Territory’s biggest ever spend on law and order.
“We cannot expect to reduce crime without investing in our police, corrections and justice system.
“This money is in addition to what we are spending to address the root causes of crime, including the Circuit Breaker program, family responsibility agreements, public housing reforms, and school attendance officers.”
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby says that addressing law and order problems requires significant spending.
“Since coming to office eight months ago, we have already put more offenders behind bars with around 600 fewer criminals on our streets each day but there is still much more to do,” Boothby says.
“We’ve also delivered the strongest bail laws in Australia, stronger sentencing laws, given police greater powers, and reinstated mandatory sentencing for DVO breaches.”
Already, 31 new trainee prison officers have graduated with 33 more in training at Darwin and 94 new beds added to the Berrimah centre last month.
The NT Budget will be handed down on Tuesday, May 13.
