Latest news with #SteveEdgington
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Advocates criticise ‘dangerous' NT plan to reintroduce spit hoods in youth detention centres
A controversial plan to reinstate spit hoods in the Northern Territory's youth detention centres has come under fire, with critics calling it a 'dangerous tactic'. Spit hoods are set to return to NT youth detention centres for the first time in almost 10 years as part of youth justice measures debated by the territory parliament this week. The Country Liberal party government has vowed to table the youth justice legislation 'on urgency' after a 15-year-old was stabbed and seriously injured in front of shocked onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. Sign up: AU Breaking News email A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teenager knew the victim. NT police confirmed in October spit hoods had been made available to use on youths in police watch houses and cells, with strict protocols. The proposed youth justice law changes would extend the use of the hoods to youth detention centres, reversing a ban imposed eight years ago. The Aboriginal affairs minister, Steve Edgington, defended the move, saying they were already being used in adult settings. 'When young people come into custody that are spitting, biting their tongue and spitting blood at correctional officers, we want to ensure that our frontline staff are protected,' he told reporters on Tuesday. 'We're hoping that we will never need to use these.' The CLP promised during the NT election in 2024 to reintroduce spit hoods for youth detainees. A 2016 ABC Four Corners report into the NT's Don Dale youth detention centre prompted outrage over the use of spit hoods and led to the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announcing a royal commission into juvenile justice in the territory. The NT government stopped the use of spit hoods and restraint chairs in youth detention centres in 2017, after the federal government's formal endorsement of a United Nations protocol against torture and inhumane punishments. In 2022, the use of spit hoods for under-18s in police custody was also banned by the then NT Labor government. A return of spit hoods at youth detention centres has been condemned by advocacy groups who say it breaches international law, will traumatise children and not lead to safer communities. The Justice Reform Initiative executive director, Mindy Sotiri, said the use of spit hoods was known to seriously harm children and increase the likelihood of reoffending. 'When children are mistreated in places of detention they come out of prison much more disconnected, much more traumatised,' she said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Prison guards were being given the power to use devices that were internationally recognised as 'cruel, degrading and inhumane', the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services said. The Natsils chair, Karly Warner, said children as young as 10 would be subject to the 'dangerous tactic' when they most needed care, support and guidance. The NT children's commissioner, Shahleena Musk, said the territory was the only Australian jurisdiction reverting to using spit hoods on children. 'This is against international law and is incredibly risky,' she told the ABC. 'It has actually led to deaths in custody in other jurisdictions.' The NT opposition leader, Selena Uibo, described the youth crime overhaul as 'rushed, kneejerk laws'. She said Labor needed more information about the safety difference between spit hoods and the new guards. Other proposed legislative changes by the NT government 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 reasonable force to 'maintain safety and prevent escapes'.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Northern Territory to reintroduce ‘dangerous' spit hoods in youth detention centres
A controversial plan to reinstate spit hoods in a crime -troubled territory's youth detention centres has come under fire, with critics calling it a 'dangerous tactic'. But the Northern Territory government has defended the move as part of its youth justice overhaul. Spit hoods are set to return to NT youth detention centres for the first time in almost 10 years as part of youth justice measures debated by the territory parliament this week. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table the youth justice legislation 'on urgency' after a 15-year-old was stabbed and seriously injured in front of shocked onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim. The NT Police Force confirmed in October that spit hoods had been made available to use on youths in police watch houses and cells, with strict protocols. The proposed youth justice law changes would extend the use of the hoods to youth detention centres, reversing a ban imposed eight years ago. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington defended the move, saying they were already being used in adult settings. 'When young people come into custody that are spitting, biting their tongue and spitting blood at correctional officers, we want to ensure that our frontline staff are protected,' he told reporters on Tuesday. 'We're hoping that we will never need to use these.' The CLP promised during the NT election in 2024 to reintroduce spit hoods for youth detainees. An ABC Four Corners report into the NT's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in 2016 prompted outrage over the use of spit hoods and led to then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing a royal commission into juvenile justice in the territory. The NT government stopped the use of spit hoods and restraint chairs in youth detention centres in 2017, following the federal government's formal endorsement of a United Nations protocol against torture and inhumane punishments. In 2022, the use of spit hoods for youths in police custody was also banned by the then-NT Labor government. A return of spit hoods at youth detention centres has been slammed by advocacy groups who say it breaches international law, will traumatise children and not lead to safer communities. Justice Reform Initiative executive director Mindy Sotiri told AAP the use of spit hoods was known to seriously harm children and increase the likelihood of reoffending. 'When children are mistreated in places of detention they come out of prison much more disconnected, much more traumatised,' she said. Prison guards were being given the power to use devices that were internationally recognised as 'cruel, degrading and inhumane', the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services said. Chair Karly Warner said children as young as 10 would be subject to the 'dangerous tactic' when they most needed care, support and guidance. NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk said the territory was the only Australian jurisdiction reverting to using spit hoods on children. 'This is against international law and is incredibly risky,' she told the ABC. 'It has actually led to deaths in custody in other jurisdictions.' NT Opposition Leader Selina Uibo described the youth crime overhaul as 'rushed, knee-jerk laws'. She said Labor needed more information about the safety difference between spit hoods and the new guards. Other proposed legislative changes by the NT government 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 reasonable force to 'maintain safety and prevent escapes'.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Holdout territory to reintroduce spit hoods for kids
A plan to reinstate controversial spit hoods in youth detention centres has been defended in the crime-troubled territory. The proposal is part of a suite of measures overhauling youth justice, to be debated in the Northern Territory parliament within days. The Country Liberal Party government has vowed to table the legislation "on urgency" after a 15-year-old was stabbed and seriously injured in front of shocked onlookers at the Royal Darwin Show on Saturday. A 15-year-old has been charged, with police alleging the teen knew the victim. The NT Police Force confirmed in October that spit hoods had been made available to use on youths in police watch houses and cells, with strict protocols in place. The proposed youth justice law changes would extend the use of the hoods to youth detention centres, reversing a ban imposed eight years ago. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington defended anti-spit guards in youth centres, saying they were already being used in adult settings. "When young people come into custody that are spitting, biting their tongue and spitting blood at correctional officers, we want to ensure that our frontline staff are protected," he told reporters on Tuesday. "We're hoping that we will never need to use these." The CLP promised during last year's NT election to reintroduce spit hoods for youth detainees. In 2016, an ABC Four Corners report into the NT's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre prompted outrage over the use of spit hoods and led to then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing a royal commission into juvenile justice in the territory. The NT government subsequently stopped the use of spit hoods and restraint chairs in youth detention centres in 2017, following the federal government's formal endorsement of a United Nations protocol against torture and inhumane punishments. In 2022, the use of spit hoods for youths in police custody was also banned by the then-NT Labor government. NT Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk said the territory was the only Australian jurisdiction reverting to using spit hoods on children. "This is against international law and is incredibly risky," she told the ABC. "It has actually led to deaths in custody in other jurisdictions." Other proposed legislative changes by the NT government 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 reasonable force to "maintain safety and prevent escapes". Powers for the territory's commissioner to manage emergencies will also be expanded. Opposition Leader Selena Uibo hit out at the youth crime overhaul, describing them as "rushed, knee-jerk laws". The NT government committed a record $1.5 billion towards law and order in its May budget.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Councils accuse territory government of overt racism
A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd".
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Councils accuse territory government of overt racism
A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd".
