The Finocchiaro CLP Government has used the Saturday night stabbing of a 15-year-old at the Darwin showgrounds to promote changes to the Youth Justice Act it will introduce this week on urgency, without any evidence the measures will reduce crime and while refusing to work with Indigenous groups and leaders to find solutions to the Territory’s crime problem.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro also claimed on radio Monday morning that evidence-based policies had not worked in reducing crime, so she will be doing things her way and introducing policies that had not been tested.
The youth justice changes, which the government said will address offenders re-offending while on bail, include bringing back spit hoods after they were banned; courts now considering a youth’s full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences; removing “detention as a last resort” for court sentencing; “stronger powers” for youth justice officers to use “reasonable force to maintain safety and prevent escapes”; as well as expanded powers for the Corrections Commissioner to manage “emergencies”.
It follows previous changes, including reducing the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years of age and a proposal to scrap the number of crimes that would qualify for diversion programs.
Ms Finocchiaro issued a statement on Sunday morning following the stabbing of the teen allegedly committed by another teen in front of dozens of show-goers, in which she politicised the crime, stating it was “the result of years of the former government’s soft, offender-first policies” and that her government would stop the “catch and release scheme”.
“This is not normal. It is not acceptable,” she said. “And under my government, it will not be tolerated.”
Ms Finocchiaro continued the tough-on-crime talk on Mix 104.9 Monday morning, stating again that the stabbing was the result of “how weak Labor has been” and that her government’s reforms will be pushed through this week in Parliament on urgency, but could not say if any of those reforms would have prevented the stabbing on Saturday.
“This week in Parliament, we’ve got an opportunity to pass our Youth Justice Act reforms in that first trench … so we’re going to do that urgently now, rather than just read out what it’s about this week and then wait till September,” she said.
“We’re just going to get the whole thing done this week.”
Ms Finocchiaro added that evidence-based approaches to addressing crime had not worked, implying that the previous Labor government followed and fully funded evidence-based approaches, and that her government would instead implement policies that aren’t based in evidence of what works.
“If your evidence [based] approach worked, we wouldn’t be talking about this right now, because I tell you what, for a decade, I sat in Parliament and listened to Labor bang on about an evidence-based approach, and where has it got us? In the worst possible position than we’ve ever been in before, so you can take that as well…” she said.
Ms Finocchiaro’s government was last week criticised by the four Territory land councils for what they called “overtly racist” policies that target Aboriginal Territorians and for the government’s failure to meet with Indigenous leaders to discuss crime solutions. Ms Finocchiaro claimed on Monday she wanted to work with the land councils, but was not asked why she has declined to meet with them.
She said the land councils needed to stop commenting on her government’s policies and start focusing on economic priorities on country, adding her crime policies are not racist.
“No, it’s just, it’s just not possible to happen,” she responded when asked directly if her policies were racist.
“You make a law and it applies to everyone.”
CLP stoking public fear: Independent MLA
The CLP Government also upped its divisive rhetoric over the weekend, labelling anyone opposed to its measures as “offender apologists”, with the rhetoric labelled “dangerous”.
Independent MLA Justine Davis said the weekend’s stabbing at the Darwin show was “shocking” and “should never have happened”.
“But once again, instead of leadership from the government, we got blame,” she said. “Instead of a plan, we got slogans.
“In the hours after the incident, the government politicised young people’s lives and stoked public fear. Rather than respond with strategy, they attacked anyone who believes safety comes from more than locking children up.
“Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s decision to label frontline youth justice experts as ‘offender apologists’ is not only inflammatory, it’s dangerous.
“This is a distraction from the real work we need to do.”
Ms Davis added the government’s proposed Youth Justice Act reforms have been brought forward with “no consultation, no scrutiny, and no evidence they will make us safer”.
“We know what does [work]: early intervention, mentoring, diversion, education, housing, trauma-informed care,” she said. “But instead of addressing root causes and fixing the court backlogs, funding diversion programs, and building bail accommodation, the government is pushing laws that punish more and support less.
“If the government were confident in their plan, they would open it to scrutiny, not silence critics. There is no leadership in weaponising fear to shut down better ideas.”
Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said in a statement that this week’s rushed changes to the Youth Justice Act mark the fourth time in less than a year that the CLP has rewritten justice laws on urgency, with little to show for it.
“Each time, they’ve ignored expert advice,” she said. “And each time, crime has gotten worse. These rushed, kneejerk laws are chaos disguised as policy – no consultation, no evidence, no real plan.
“The CLP talks tough but acts recklessly. They’ve cut support for victims, scrapped the Minimum Unit Price making alcohol cheaper, and failed to roll our preventative programs they promised like boot camps.
“The Opposition has supported a number of the CLP’s law changes, including those passed on urgency, but we cannot continue to support a government that refuses to govern transparently or consult the community.
“Lia Finocchiaro isn’t leading, she’s lashing out. When Territorians demand answers and accountability, she attacks them instead of doing her job.”
Keep up the good work Lia. Stronger detention policies are required. 30 years of leniency has failed. Bring back mandatory sentencing. 3 strikes and you’re out!
Lia close down the new youth criminal detention center, it is not fit for purpose but would make a great rural old peoples home. Put the young crims into a tent camp at Escape Cliffs.
boof!! great superb idea!!
She presents herself with a no-nonsense, assertive style, which some interpret as traditionally masculine.
“who believes safety comes from more than locking children up.” If they are locked up they won’t be out and about giving everyone hell.
The point is – they eventually get out and without intervention, commit increasingly worse and more violent crimes. All these laws are doing is kicking the can down the road.
Chief Minister, panic not rational. In fact panic is an accelerant. In part, a solution must include Indigenous parent(s) fulfilling their familial responsibilities. Instead of a culture war? Or handing-down to government, non-indigenous officialdom? Indigenous child / youth criminality in NT has moved beyond individual events. Now endemic. Without Indigenous adult engagement . . . only further anarchic outcomes possible. Building Prison(s) . . . bigger. Only ensures a deeper and deeper irreconcilability. American militarised style boot camps will not service the beginnings of a pending culture war?
More short-sighted, knee jerk reactions to crime that’s already happened.
There is no quick fix to this. Increased detention threats don’t scare most offenders. They might briefly satisfy angry mobs online but they won’t do anything to reduce the crime statistics.
Knife crime is rising too, if you don’t put proper preventative measures in place now it’ll be like England soon enough.
Nice to see Justine gaining some confidence and finding her voice. **clapping emoji**
…
Invest in the root ’cause otherwise all your future plants will end up neglected and malnourished.
Emergency legislation rushed through is NEVER a good thing. This is the hallmark of power grab, authoritarian leadership. Create an emergency and then offer a solution the comes at a cost of your liberty.
It is absolutely necessary to implement tough laws, but dont be fooled into thinking there is no cost on our society. The full effect of this legislation won’t be known for a decade or more.
It’s always interesting when the solution offered is always to give away your freedoms and never to strengthen your ability to defend yourself.
Imagine if you were legally allowed to defend yourself. How quickly would home invasions stop if there was a good chance of summary justice on the other side of that door.
This criminality will not cease until there are real and immediate consequences to their actions.
Lia, if you want to secure a safer Territory, unshackle the residents. Empower residents to defend themselves.
1. Cheaper than police
2. More effective than detention
3. Immediate effect
It’s not the government’s job to fix a person broken by their flawed family or flawed culture.
Just lock them away to protect the rest of us law abiding citizens. Never let them out and we’ll solve all our crime problems.
No sympathy for violent criminals. None at all.
Lia Finochiaro is very masculine
I am calling out a public lie.
The “evidence-based solutions” were never evidence-based. They were leftist theories.
What empirical evidence does show is that as parenting has been eroded since 1975, and has finally all but collapsed, juvenile crime has increased exponentially. The three main sources of this erosion have been the ALP, the United Nations, and the Murdoch Media; backed by social worker and teacher unions, and by judicial activism; interfering with parenting.
Political ideologues who think they can improve on, or replace, nature’s parenting are the direct cause of parents actually being prosecuted for legitimate acts of parenting.
In this horrific context, the consequences of effective parenting can be state condemnation, supported by the judiciary. The outcome? For children who commit crimes, there are no consequences. The simple equation: Parenting = red flag. Crime = green flag.
To Graeme Bull and Justine Davies, kindly cease preaching on issues you have little or no knowledge of. This mindless parroting of pseudo-social science buzz phrases may resonate in a university tutorial but it engenders fury in utterly frustrated parents; both those struggling with out-of-control kids, and in their victims.
Finocciaro, as is her brief as Chief Minister, responded immediately to a crisis situation with a crisis-control containment action. What irresponsible critic condemns this as “hasty”?
FACT ONE: the Government’s first responsibility is to protect the community, especially children.
FACT TWO: Violent criminals cannot hurt the community when under lock and key.
So, to any rational human being, the Chief Minister did what she had to do. On record, the ALP would have prevaricated, pontificated, and fallen back to its natural state: petrified.
I call on Lia Finocchiaro to assemble a Territory-wide conference to assess the available options on where to go from here. No experts or organisations protecting their funding, please; because they have failed and are part of the problem. Just Territorians: mums and dads, and victim citizens of each individual community.
Out of this will emerge answers not previously canvassed, but already proved effective.
There’s nothing wrong with simply saying:
“This is a long term problem with complex drivers that many people have failed to crack over many years, across many countries using many different tools. But rest assured we’re working on it as fast as we can and we’re open to hearing about any new ideas while we try to strike a balance between community safety and useful intervention, including citizens.”
Parenting is only one of many influences on behaviour. If you believe that’s the main part of this issue that needs fixed then advocate for more parenting support both community and government wide.
You missed FACT THREE: “tough on crime” political posturing has never resulted in a sustained long term reduction of crime, anywhere.
Be careful you don’t get hurt with your pitchforks and torches there Tony. You’re beginning to sound like Professor Boofby blaming the ALP for everything!
Panic not rational. Tick. “Solution must include Indigenous parents. Tick. Instead of a culture war. Tick. Youth criminality . . . endemic. Tick. Irreconcilability. Tick. American Boot Camps will not service beginnings of a pending culture war. Tick. Appreciate Tony that you have to ‘protect’? But . . . . “mindless parroting of pseudo-social science buzz phrases . . . “? Hurtfull! Have learnt a little and survived twenty plus years as a ‘Director of Youth and Children Services’ plus. Working on streets of inner Melbourne with criminalized youth. I survived. Others did not.
Hello to all,
Firstly, l am no fan of LiaR, there is a most evil dominatrix at work in my opinion, not to mention an odour of foul contempt and apparent corruption. CLP Ministers daren’t show strength, courage or exercise voice, whilst silently enjoying remuneration and benefits from the public purse which can only be received as not only disrespectful to Territorians but most worrying, l sense they have fear.
This latest stabbing highlights the fact, with a common sense viewpoint that this degradation of lawfulness can only have transpired from piss poor guidance from meek, weak Doo- gooders coupled with the ever present mentioning of “ indigenous/ aboriginal/ First Nations etc, the latter having the effect “Duck and run for cover”! By again week/ meek authorities!
Credit to Lia ( note the lack of R) grabbing the snake by the tail- any action is good action if a change for better is the outcome!
I recall a discussion with Lia where- in Lia mentioned that the laws pertaining to social security payments and parenting responsibility’s already existed albeit no- one had exercised them!
Now the “ R” comes back!
How many fines have been given and paid for truancy under the CLP new laws- l would suggest at a guess each day should see upwards of 400 fines issued, truancy is a known problem!
Poor parenting is a known problem!
The uncontrolled spend ability for non essential goods from moneys giving out to persons without toil, is a known issue— many would rightly argue alcohol is a major cause of dysfunction in society and a burden for healthy choices!
That old FIFO- fit in or fark off is the catch phrase to be sung!
1 law for everyone, no ifs, no buts, no BS- 3 strikes your gone alongside an aggressive department of families utilising all resources to protect this innocent towards a future vision of a better healthier life and future!
In short the softly softly BS has allowed rape , fear, hunger, loss, excessive costs and fractured somewhat the kinship of Australians and in reality assembled hatred and racism- Where we are today is not only a poor situation more importantly no good can ever honestly be envisioned with this pathway of poop!
Keep great