The Finocchiaro CLP Government’s proposed ‘tough on crime’ measures that will see pepper spray on the street next week and bus cops armed with guns by early next year will not produce safer communities, a group of unions, non-government organisations, community medical groups, Victims of Crime NT and faith-based bodies say, after penning an open letter to the Chief Minister calling for sanity to be restored.

“We are alarmed about the potential consequences of NT Government policies,” the letter states.

“Arming the public with pepper spray risks escalating violent incidents. Allowing guns on public transport and in public housing exposes the poor and marginalised to an increased risk of violence, arrest and even the possibility of deaths in custody.

“The NT Government is rolling out these initiatives in the name of victims of crime.

“However, ill-thought-out reactions can result in victims of crime not being protected at all. There is no evidence that spreading weapons through our community deters or reduces crime in the long term.”

The letter was signed by 21 civil society groups, including Victims of Crime NT, the Australian Education Union, Anglicare NT, the Catholic Diocese of Darwin, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, Catholic Care NT, Justice Not Jails, Public Health Association Australia (NT) and the Justice Reform Initiative.

The broad coalition of groups said the government needs to make proper investments in programs that address the root causes of crime, rather than simply locking people up.

“Significant investments are needed across multiple sectors; safe and affordable housing, mental health, education, alcohol and other drug services, justice reinvestment, youth services and other structural supports are required to reduce the risk of violence and keep people out of prison,” the letter states.

Victims of Crime NT chief executive Gerard McGeough said his organisation witnesses the impacts of crime on Territorians every day and “understand why this is a serious priority for government”, but wanted to see policies that stay away from “reaction, rhetoric and short-term cursory fixes”.

“VoCNT encourages and supports evidence-based, community led initiatives that honour our collective social responsibility to reduce the social determinants of crime for the benefit of every single Territorian in the long-term,” Mr McGeough said.

“Pepper spray gives a false sense of safety and risks escalating violence,” said Catholic Care NT director Jane Lloyd.

“For victims of domestic and sexual violence in particular, this is deeply concerning, it creates fear, not protection. True safety will never come from weapons in our homes and streets, but from building strong communities where every person feels valued and secure.

“The government must take a more considered approach that authentically contributes to healing, connection, and long-term community safety, not policies that increase fear and conflict.”

Bishop Charles Gauci said he is aware the crime rate is “challenging to many people”, but said he was concerned with “a number of aspects” of the government’s policies that “will not in the long term reduce crime”.

“They will also have detrimental effects on the lives of many who are amongst the most vulnerable members of our society,” he said.

“We need a holistic approach to these challenges based on evidence and wisdom. Hence, I urge the government to keep reassessing policies for the long-term good of all.

“Sometimes policies made by good people can have unintended consequences.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has previously said she does not follow evidence when developing anti-crime policies and “makes no apologies” for being tough on crime, while dismissing criticism of her government’s policies by referring to critics as “offender apologists”.

Her office referred requests for comment to the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Robyn Cahill, who played down the concerns raised by the different community groups in the open letter on Thursday, stating their concerns “really are unfounded”.

“Our government is really committed to creating a safe community environment,” she said at a press conference.

“It’s really about making sure that our entire community is supported and feeling safe.

“This [OC spray rollout] is an initiative that’s been rolled out in Western Australia to great effect and I think that we’ve seen that we’re listening to the community who are raising concerns about what they need to make them feel that they are safer in the community. We’ll be monitoring the impact of that as the trial rolls out.”

The Queensland LNP Government recently ruled out introducing a similar trial there, stating it was dangerous to the public due to “potential misuse and unintended harm”.

Opposition Labor Leader Selena Uibo said the pepper spray initiative is being introduced without proper consultation, evidence or a plan and should be delayed.

“Before weaponising the public with OC spray, the CLP Government should have the decency to sit down with the frontline organisations who will have to deal with the fallout of their half-baked law and order stunts,” she said.

“Territorians are sick of a government that lashes out at anyone who offers constructive feedback.”

The NT Police Association has also voiced concerns about the rollout of the pepper spray trial, last week raising unaddressed concerns over the lack of mandatory training for safe usage, vague legal thresholds for its use that will cause police an increased workload to investigate, and the lack of a “real-time database” to ensure criminals are not buying the spray.

Pepper spray will be available for purchase in the NT as of Monday, September 1, at declared “OC spray firearms dealers”.

Here is the full open letter to the Finocchiaro CLP Government:

Safety in the Northern Territory is a complex and polarising issue. The situation at present is becoming untenable and ‘tough on crime’ reactions can do more harm than good. We, the undersigned civil society and grassroots organisations, call on the NT Government to take active steps to build thriving and safer communities.

We acknowledge that crime needs to be addressed, but the NT Government’s law-and-order policies have the consequence of negatively impacting mainly Indigenous families and communities, while not doing enough to address the root causes of harm. We believe the NT Government must implement evidence-based initiatives, and we strongly believe that Indigenous-led community safety models must be part of the solution.

We are alarmed about the potential consequences of NT Government policies. Arming the public with pepper spray risks escalating violent incidents. Allowing guns on public transport and in public housing exposes the poor and marginalised to an increased risk of violence, arrest and even the possibility of deaths in custody.

The NT Government is rolling out these initiatives in the name of victims of crime. However, ill-thought-out reactions can result in victims of crime not being protected at all. There is no evidence that spreading weapons through our community deters or reduces crime in the long term.

We know what works: addressing poverty, trauma and discrimination, as well as helping people regain a sense of identity. There must be consequences for wrongdoing, but increasing the incarceration rate is a simplistic response to a complicated reality. We need to help people rebuild their lives with the support of their families and communities. If we do this, crime is much less likely to occur.

NT Government policies need to reduce fear and make everyone feel safe and welcome in the community. Significant investments are needed across multiple sectors; safe and affordable housing, mental health, education, alcohol and other drug services, justice reinvestment, youth services and other structural supports are required to reduce the risk of violence and keep people out of prison.

Signed,

⁠Victims of Crime (NT)
•⁠ ⁠Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT
•⁠ ⁠Catholic Diocese of Darwin
•⁠ ⁠ARDS Aboriginal Corporation
•⁠ ⁠Mental Health Association of Central Australia
•⁠ ⁠Darwin Children’s Clinic
•⁠ ⁠Central Australian Youth Justice
•⁠ ⁠Herstory Mparntwe
•⁠ ⁠Catholic Care NT
•⁠ ⁠Danila Dilba Health Service
•⁠ ⁠Anglicare NT
•⁠ ⁠Australian Education Union (NT)
•⁠ ⁠Justice not Jails
•⁠ ⁠Vital Collective
•⁠ ⁠Veritable Disability Services
•⁠ ⁠Public Health Association Australia (NT)
•⁠ ⁠Waterlily Aboriginal Corporation
•⁠ ⁠The Nest
•⁠ ⁠National Tertiary Education Union (NT)
•⁠ ⁠Justice Reform Initiative (NT)

•⁠ ⁠Running Water Community Press