'Senseless violence': boy attack fast-tracks law reform
But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending.
The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday.
It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition.
A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account".
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown.
"But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday.
"This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated."
The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review.
Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort.
Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes".
Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament.
Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending.
It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness.
"If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said.
Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws".
"This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said.
Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland.
Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign.
Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws.
But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April.
Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community.
The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget.
A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown.
But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending.
The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday.
It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition.
A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account".
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown.
"But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday.
"This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated."
The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review.
Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort.
Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes".
Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament.
Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending.
It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness.
"If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said.
Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws".
"This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said.
Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland.
Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign.
Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws.
But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April.
Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community.
The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget.
A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown.
But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending.
The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday.
It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition.
A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account".
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown.
"But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday.
"This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated."
The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review.
Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort.
Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes".
Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament.
Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending.
It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness.
"If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said.
Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws".
"This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said.
Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland.
Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign.
Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws.
But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April.
Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community.
The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget.
A shocking showground stabbing of a teenager has fast-tracked a crime-hit territory's youth justice crackdown.
But the Northern Territory's proposed law changes have come under fire, with an advocacy group claiming they will likely increase offending.
The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table legislation "on urgency" to overhaul the Youth Justice Act when parliament sits from Tuesday.
It comes just days after a 15-year-old was stabbed in front of stunned onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday.
The teenager remains in hospital in a serious condition.
A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim and the alleged attack was not random.
Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley on Monday said the law changes would "put victims first, protect frontline staff and hold serious youth offenders to account".
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she expected the "usual offender apologists" to criticise the crackdown.
"But they should look Territorians in the eye and say that kids witnessing senseless violence at a family show is okay," she posted on social media on Sunday.
"This is not normal. It is not acceptable. And under my government, it will not be tolerated."
The alleged offender was charged with recklessly endangering life along with the possession, carry or use of a controlled weapon and remains in custody awaiting a bail review.
Proposed legislative changes include considering a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences and removing detention as a last resort.
Youth justice officers will have greater powers to use anti-spit guards and reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes".
Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will be expanded when legislation is passed in parliament.
Advocacy group Justice Reform Initiative on Monday said removing detention as a last resort for children would increase the likelihood of future reoffending.
It urged the government to instead address crime rates by tackling issues such as drug and alcohol dependency, mental health conditions, unemployment, domestic violence and homelessness.
"If tougher laws and punitive approaches to detention were going to build a safer community, the NT would already be the safest place in Australia," the initiative's Mindy Sotiri said.
Opposition leader Selena Uibo described the proposed overhaul as "rushed, knee-jerk laws".
"This law-and-order agenda is not a strategy, it's a stunt," she said.
Tough youth justice reforms have been introduced across Australia, with the NT's approach mirroring that of Queensland.
Queensland's Liberal National government introduced controversial "adult crime, adult time" laws after a successful 2024 election campaign.
Victoria and NSW have also introduced tougher bail laws.
But the NT has what have been billed as the nation's harshest bail laws following 71-year-old Darwin grocer Linford Feick's fatal stabbing in April.
Under the laws, to grant bail a court must have "a high degree of confidence" an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community.
The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law-and-order spending in its May budget.
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