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The Advertiser
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Spotlight on youth as sun sets on Garma Festival start
The Northern Territory's controversial youth crime laws are in the spotlight at a major Indigenous cultural festival. Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was a hot topic at the annual Garma Festival on Friday during a panel with Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington and Opposition Leader Selena Uibo. Ms Uibo accused the government of cutting Aboriginal people out of the conversation. The move would lead to bad policy, she said, pointing to changes to youth justice legislation which passed in the Territory this week. The changes included the reinstatement of spit hoods and the removal of detention as a last resort. "We are starting to see a government go down a dangerous path of disengagement with the very people they are making laws for in the Northern Territory and cut them out of the conversation," Ms Uibo said. Asked if the government had consulted with land councils or other Aboriginal groups in the lead up to changes to youth justice laws, Mr Edgington said he did not have the information in front of him. But he said the corrections minister had gone out to speak to "different people" about the issue. Mr Edgington said the government was focused on tackling the "root causes" of crime, pointing to the issue of housing. He said the focus was on "changing the landscape" when it came to remote communities. "People living in remote areas feel like they've lost control of their communities," he said. "People want to take control of their communities. That's what I'm hearing." Young people have been a significant focus on the first day of Garma, which marks 25 years in 2025. School students and educators presented their achievements, speaking about the importance of learning on-Country and in a system which values Yolngu and Western knowledge. Gumatj Corporation operations manager Michael Yunupingu, the grandson of the late Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu, outlined his aims for Yolngu people in his opening address. "My vision is to see a place that provides all-round support for Yolngu, in employment, education, health and wellbeing, and cultural laws," Mr Yunupingu said. As the sun set on the Garma festival's opening day, it was the children who stole the show at the nightly bunggul (ceremonial dance). The importance of passing down cultural knowledge was on full display as the smallest dancers kept pace with the adults on the sand that makes up the bunggul grounds, in front of crowds gathered for the festival. Garma's 2025 theme, "rom ga waŋa wataŋu", or "the law of the land, standing firm", pays homage to those who started the event. Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden said the 2025 Garma theme also reflected the Yolngu fight for empowerment and land rights. "This year is a real acknowledgement and a proper nod to the Yunupingu brothers who had some pretty large ideas for the Garma Festival," she told AAP. "Many of us had some catching up to do when we realised what they had created because now it's a nationally iconic event attracting 3500 people each year to a very remote location." The Northern Territory's controversial youth crime laws are in the spotlight at a major Indigenous cultural festival. Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was a hot topic at the annual Garma Festival on Friday during a panel with Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington and Opposition Leader Selena Uibo. Ms Uibo accused the government of cutting Aboriginal people out of the conversation. The move would lead to bad policy, she said, pointing to changes to youth justice legislation which passed in the Territory this week. The changes included the reinstatement of spit hoods and the removal of detention as a last resort. "We are starting to see a government go down a dangerous path of disengagement with the very people they are making laws for in the Northern Territory and cut them out of the conversation," Ms Uibo said. Asked if the government had consulted with land councils or other Aboriginal groups in the lead up to changes to youth justice laws, Mr Edgington said he did not have the information in front of him. But he said the corrections minister had gone out to speak to "different people" about the issue. Mr Edgington said the government was focused on tackling the "root causes" of crime, pointing to the issue of housing. He said the focus was on "changing the landscape" when it came to remote communities. "People living in remote areas feel like they've lost control of their communities," he said. "People want to take control of their communities. That's what I'm hearing." Young people have been a significant focus on the first day of Garma, which marks 25 years in 2025. School students and educators presented their achievements, speaking about the importance of learning on-Country and in a system which values Yolngu and Western knowledge. Gumatj Corporation operations manager Michael Yunupingu, the grandson of the late Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu, outlined his aims for Yolngu people in his opening address. "My vision is to see a place that provides all-round support for Yolngu, in employment, education, health and wellbeing, and cultural laws," Mr Yunupingu said. As the sun set on the Garma festival's opening day, it was the children who stole the show at the nightly bunggul (ceremonial dance). The importance of passing down cultural knowledge was on full display as the smallest dancers kept pace with the adults on the sand that makes up the bunggul grounds, in front of crowds gathered for the festival. Garma's 2025 theme, "rom ga waŋa wataŋu", or "the law of the land, standing firm", pays homage to those who started the event. Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden said the 2025 Garma theme also reflected the Yolngu fight for empowerment and land rights. "This year is a real acknowledgement and a proper nod to the Yunupingu brothers who had some pretty large ideas for the Garma Festival," she told AAP. "Many of us had some catching up to do when we realised what they had created because now it's a nationally iconic event attracting 3500 people each year to a very remote location." The Northern Territory's controversial youth crime laws are in the spotlight at a major Indigenous cultural festival. Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was a hot topic at the annual Garma Festival on Friday during a panel with Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington and Opposition Leader Selena Uibo. Ms Uibo accused the government of cutting Aboriginal people out of the conversation. The move would lead to bad policy, she said, pointing to changes to youth justice legislation which passed in the Territory this week. The changes included the reinstatement of spit hoods and the removal of detention as a last resort. "We are starting to see a government go down a dangerous path of disengagement with the very people they are making laws for in the Northern Territory and cut them out of the conversation," Ms Uibo said. Asked if the government had consulted with land councils or other Aboriginal groups in the lead up to changes to youth justice laws, Mr Edgington said he did not have the information in front of him. But he said the corrections minister had gone out to speak to "different people" about the issue. Mr Edgington said the government was focused on tackling the "root causes" of crime, pointing to the issue of housing. He said the focus was on "changing the landscape" when it came to remote communities. "People living in remote areas feel like they've lost control of their communities," he said. "People want to take control of their communities. That's what I'm hearing." Young people have been a significant focus on the first day of Garma, which marks 25 years in 2025. School students and educators presented their achievements, speaking about the importance of learning on-Country and in a system which values Yolngu and Western knowledge. Gumatj Corporation operations manager Michael Yunupingu, the grandson of the late Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu, outlined his aims for Yolngu people in his opening address. "My vision is to see a place that provides all-round support for Yolngu, in employment, education, health and wellbeing, and cultural laws," Mr Yunupingu said. As the sun set on the Garma festival's opening day, it was the children who stole the show at the nightly bunggul (ceremonial dance). The importance of passing down cultural knowledge was on full display as the smallest dancers kept pace with the adults on the sand that makes up the bunggul grounds, in front of crowds gathered for the festival. Garma's 2025 theme, "rom ga waŋa wataŋu", or "the law of the land, standing firm", pays homage to those who started the event. Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden said the 2025 Garma theme also reflected the Yolngu fight for empowerment and land rights. "This year is a real acknowledgement and a proper nod to the Yunupingu brothers who had some pretty large ideas for the Garma Festival," she told AAP. "Many of us had some catching up to do when we realised what they had created because now it's a nationally iconic event attracting 3500 people each year to a very remote location." The Northern Territory's controversial youth crime laws are in the spotlight at a major Indigenous cultural festival. Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was a hot topic at the annual Garma Festival on Friday during a panel with Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington and Opposition Leader Selena Uibo. Ms Uibo accused the government of cutting Aboriginal people out of the conversation. The move would lead to bad policy, she said, pointing to changes to youth justice legislation which passed in the Territory this week. The changes included the reinstatement of spit hoods and the removal of detention as a last resort. "We are starting to see a government go down a dangerous path of disengagement with the very people they are making laws for in the Northern Territory and cut them out of the conversation," Ms Uibo said. Asked if the government had consulted with land councils or other Aboriginal groups in the lead up to changes to youth justice laws, Mr Edgington said he did not have the information in front of him. But he said the corrections minister had gone out to speak to "different people" about the issue. Mr Edgington said the government was focused on tackling the "root causes" of crime, pointing to the issue of housing. He said the focus was on "changing the landscape" when it came to remote communities. "People living in remote areas feel like they've lost control of their communities," he said. "People want to take control of their communities. That's what I'm hearing." Young people have been a significant focus on the first day of Garma, which marks 25 years in 2025. School students and educators presented their achievements, speaking about the importance of learning on-Country and in a system which values Yolngu and Western knowledge. Gumatj Corporation operations manager Michael Yunupingu, the grandson of the late Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu, outlined his aims for Yolngu people in his opening address. "My vision is to see a place that provides all-round support for Yolngu, in employment, education, health and wellbeing, and cultural laws," Mr Yunupingu said. As the sun set on the Garma festival's opening day, it was the children who stole the show at the nightly bunggul (ceremonial dance). The importance of passing down cultural knowledge was on full display as the smallest dancers kept pace with the adults on the sand that makes up the bunggul grounds, in front of crowds gathered for the festival. Garma's 2025 theme, "rom ga waŋa wataŋu", or "the law of the land, standing firm", pays homage to those who started the event. Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive Denise Bowden said the 2025 Garma theme also reflected the Yolngu fight for empowerment and land rights. "This year is a real acknowledgement and a proper nod to the Yunupingu brothers who had some pretty large ideas for the Garma Festival," she told AAP. "Many of us had some catching up to do when we realised what they had created because now it's a nationally iconic event attracting 3500 people each year to a very remote location."
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Claims waterfront funds were misused are rejected
Claims public funds were misused at a popular waterfront precinct where a territory chief minister's husband is a senior executive have been rejected by a parliamentary committee. Conflict of interest allegations involving the Darwin Waterfront Corporation were referred to the Northern Territory parliament's public accounts committee by Opposition Leader Selena Uibo in May. She said under parliamentary privilege that among the claims was the "alleged creation of a made-up, part-time job for Mr Sam Burke", the waterfront corporation's deputy chief executive. Mr Burke, the husband of Chief Minister Lia Finocchario, has worked at the corporation since 2016. Ms Uibo said his the role was "reportedly unadvertised" and allegedly resulted in a $60,000 salary increase through a temporary higher duties allowance. The allegations were too serious and the public money involved too significant to be "swept under the rug", she told parliament. The waterfront corporation is a statutory authority set up by the NT government to control one of the Top End's most popular recreational precincts, including a wave lagoon, beaches, parks, restaurants and bars. Ms Uibo also referred to reports of public service rules being repeatedly breached, roles not advertised, promotions bypassing merit-based reviews and job evaluation processes ignored to benefit certain individuals. But Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the Public Accounts Committee had found there was "absolutely no case to answer", with the public now questioning Ms Uibo's integrity and judgment. "The current leader of the opposition used parliamentary privilege to smear public servants with baseless allegations," Ms Boothby said in a statement on Tuesday night. She said Ms Uibo owed public servants and all Territorians an apology after making "baseless claims". "I dread to think how much taxpayer's money was wasted by the opposition slinging mud at public servants," she said. The waterfront corporation has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement it was audited annually by the NT auditor-general who had found "no evidence to support any finding of financial or governance misconduct". Ms Uibo's office has been contacted for comment. Claims public funds were misused at a popular waterfront precinct where a territory chief minister's husband is a senior executive have been rejected by a parliamentary committee. Conflict of interest allegations involving the Darwin Waterfront Corporation were referred to the Northern Territory parliament's public accounts committee by Opposition Leader Selena Uibo in May. She said under parliamentary privilege that among the claims was the "alleged creation of a made-up, part-time job for Mr Sam Burke", the waterfront corporation's deputy chief executive. Mr Burke, the husband of Chief Minister Lia Finocchario, has worked at the corporation since 2016. Ms Uibo said his the role was "reportedly unadvertised" and allegedly resulted in a $60,000 salary increase through a temporary higher duties allowance. The allegations were too serious and the public money involved too significant to be "swept under the rug", she told parliament. The waterfront corporation is a statutory authority set up by the NT government to control one of the Top End's most popular recreational precincts, including a wave lagoon, beaches, parks, restaurants and bars. Ms Uibo also referred to reports of public service rules being repeatedly breached, roles not advertised, promotions bypassing merit-based reviews and job evaluation processes ignored to benefit certain individuals. But Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the Public Accounts Committee had found there was "absolutely no case to answer", with the public now questioning Ms Uibo's integrity and judgment. "The current leader of the opposition used parliamentary privilege to smear public servants with baseless allegations," Ms Boothby said in a statement on Tuesday night. She said Ms Uibo owed public servants and all Territorians an apology after making "baseless claims". "I dread to think how much taxpayer's money was wasted by the opposition slinging mud at public servants," she said. The waterfront corporation has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement it was audited annually by the NT auditor-general who had found "no evidence to support any finding of financial or governance misconduct". Ms Uibo's office has been contacted for comment. Claims public funds were misused at a popular waterfront precinct where a territory chief minister's husband is a senior executive have been rejected by a parliamentary committee. Conflict of interest allegations involving the Darwin Waterfront Corporation were referred to the Northern Territory parliament's public accounts committee by Opposition Leader Selena Uibo in May. She said under parliamentary privilege that among the claims was the "alleged creation of a made-up, part-time job for Mr Sam Burke", the waterfront corporation's deputy chief executive. Mr Burke, the husband of Chief Minister Lia Finocchario, has worked at the corporation since 2016. Ms Uibo said his the role was "reportedly unadvertised" and allegedly resulted in a $60,000 salary increase through a temporary higher duties allowance. The allegations were too serious and the public money involved too significant to be "swept under the rug", she told parliament. The waterfront corporation is a statutory authority set up by the NT government to control one of the Top End's most popular recreational precincts, including a wave lagoon, beaches, parks, restaurants and bars. Ms Uibo also referred to reports of public service rules being repeatedly breached, roles not advertised, promotions bypassing merit-based reviews and job evaluation processes ignored to benefit certain individuals. But Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the Public Accounts Committee had found there was "absolutely no case to answer", with the public now questioning Ms Uibo's integrity and judgment. "The current leader of the opposition used parliamentary privilege to smear public servants with baseless allegations," Ms Boothby said in a statement on Tuesday night. She said Ms Uibo owed public servants and all Territorians an apology after making "baseless claims". "I dread to think how much taxpayer's money was wasted by the opposition slinging mud at public servants," she said. The waterfront corporation has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement it was audited annually by the NT auditor-general who had found "no evidence to support any finding of financial or governance misconduct". Ms Uibo's office has been contacted for comment. Claims public funds were misused at a popular waterfront precinct where a territory chief minister's husband is a senior executive have been rejected by a parliamentary committee. Conflict of interest allegations involving the Darwin Waterfront Corporation were referred to the Northern Territory parliament's public accounts committee by Opposition Leader Selena Uibo in May. She said under parliamentary privilege that among the claims was the "alleged creation of a made-up, part-time job for Mr Sam Burke", the waterfront corporation's deputy chief executive. Mr Burke, the husband of Chief Minister Lia Finocchario, has worked at the corporation since 2016. Ms Uibo said his the role was "reportedly unadvertised" and allegedly resulted in a $60,000 salary increase through a temporary higher duties allowance. The allegations were too serious and the public money involved too significant to be "swept under the rug", she told parliament. The waterfront corporation is a statutory authority set up by the NT government to control one of the Top End's most popular recreational precincts, including a wave lagoon, beaches, parks, restaurants and bars. Ms Uibo also referred to reports of public service rules being repeatedly breached, roles not advertised, promotions bypassing merit-based reviews and job evaluation processes ignored to benefit certain individuals. But Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the Public Accounts Committee had found there was "absolutely no case to answer", with the public now questioning Ms Uibo's integrity and judgment. "The current leader of the opposition used parliamentary privilege to smear public servants with baseless allegations," Ms Boothby said in a statement on Tuesday night. She said Ms Uibo owed public servants and all Territorians an apology after making "baseless claims". "I dread to think how much taxpayer's money was wasted by the opposition slinging mud at public servants," she said. The waterfront corporation has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement it was audited annually by the NT auditor-general who had found "no evidence to support any finding of financial or governance misconduct". Ms Uibo's office has been contacted for comment.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
NT budget a 'missed chance' to tackle causes of crime
The latest Northern Territory budget is a missed opportunity to address the root causes of crime and how the justice system fuels repeat offending, the opposition leader says. Selena Uibo, who is also shadow treasurer, gave her budget reply speech on Wednesday after Treasurer Bill Yan outlined a record spend of $1.5 billion on law and order. Ms Uibo said the Country Liberal Party government was putting investment in prisons well above investment in jobs and economic growth, social cohesion and community development. About $500 million will go to corrective services, with Mr Yan saying the government was "unapologetic about shifting the focus from offender rights to the victims' rights to feel safe". He noted the government had provided more than 500 extra prison beds since coming to power in 2024. Tougher new bail laws introduced two weeks ago mean even more beds will be needed. Ms Uibo said being on bail or serving a sentence should never be a pathway to further offending. But that happened when governments failed to invest in intervention, rehabilitation and support programs that broke the cycle of crime and gave people the chance to change course, she said. "This is how we deliver long-term reductions in crime and safer communities across the territory." The CLP government was failing Territorians badly, Ms Uibo said. "Their refusal to invest in meaningful crime prevention will have consequences that reach well beyond this budget cycle," she said. "If the CLP believes their decisions aren't contributing to the territory's rising crime rates, then they are not just out of touch, they're delusional." Ms Uibo said Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had promised her government would establish boot camps in Alice Springs and Darwin to give courts a place to send youth offenders as part of sentencing, but there was no sign of them. A promise to make diversion programs mandatory for youth offenders had also failed to materialise. Ms Finocchiaro has insisted her government is taking action to break the cycle of crime through early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. That included reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children's attendance. Ms Uibo said the budget was the most expensive ever and showed the chief minister's big promises about reining in debt and responsible fiscal management were "up in smoke". The debt, forecast to steadily decrease under the former Labor government's stewardship, would blow out in the next three years under the CLP, she said. The budget showed the territory's net debt sat at $10.55 billion and was projected to rise to almost $14 billion by 2028/29. The latest Northern Territory budget is a missed opportunity to address the root causes of crime and how the justice system fuels repeat offending, the opposition leader says. Selena Uibo, who is also shadow treasurer, gave her budget reply speech on Wednesday after Treasurer Bill Yan outlined a record spend of $1.5 billion on law and order. Ms Uibo said the Country Liberal Party government was putting investment in prisons well above investment in jobs and economic growth, social cohesion and community development. About $500 million will go to corrective services, with Mr Yan saying the government was "unapologetic about shifting the focus from offender rights to the victims' rights to feel safe". He noted the government had provided more than 500 extra prison beds since coming to power in 2024. Tougher new bail laws introduced two weeks ago mean even more beds will be needed. Ms Uibo said being on bail or serving a sentence should never be a pathway to further offending. But that happened when governments failed to invest in intervention, rehabilitation and support programs that broke the cycle of crime and gave people the chance to change course, she said. "This is how we deliver long-term reductions in crime and safer communities across the territory." The CLP government was failing Territorians badly, Ms Uibo said. "Their refusal to invest in meaningful crime prevention will have consequences that reach well beyond this budget cycle," she said. "If the CLP believes their decisions aren't contributing to the territory's rising crime rates, then they are not just out of touch, they're delusional." Ms Uibo said Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had promised her government would establish boot camps in Alice Springs and Darwin to give courts a place to send youth offenders as part of sentencing, but there was no sign of them. A promise to make diversion programs mandatory for youth offenders had also failed to materialise. Ms Finocchiaro has insisted her government is taking action to break the cycle of crime through early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. That included reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children's attendance. Ms Uibo said the budget was the most expensive ever and showed the chief minister's big promises about reining in debt and responsible fiscal management were "up in smoke". The debt, forecast to steadily decrease under the former Labor government's stewardship, would blow out in the next three years under the CLP, she said. The budget showed the territory's net debt sat at $10.55 billion and was projected to rise to almost $14 billion by 2028/29. The latest Northern Territory budget is a missed opportunity to address the root causes of crime and how the justice system fuels repeat offending, the opposition leader says. Selena Uibo, who is also shadow treasurer, gave her budget reply speech on Wednesday after Treasurer Bill Yan outlined a record spend of $1.5 billion on law and order. Ms Uibo said the Country Liberal Party government was putting investment in prisons well above investment in jobs and economic growth, social cohesion and community development. About $500 million will go to corrective services, with Mr Yan saying the government was "unapologetic about shifting the focus from offender rights to the victims' rights to feel safe". He noted the government had provided more than 500 extra prison beds since coming to power in 2024. Tougher new bail laws introduced two weeks ago mean even more beds will be needed. Ms Uibo said being on bail or serving a sentence should never be a pathway to further offending. But that happened when governments failed to invest in intervention, rehabilitation and support programs that broke the cycle of crime and gave people the chance to change course, she said. "This is how we deliver long-term reductions in crime and safer communities across the territory." The CLP government was failing Territorians badly, Ms Uibo said. "Their refusal to invest in meaningful crime prevention will have consequences that reach well beyond this budget cycle," she said. "If the CLP believes their decisions aren't contributing to the territory's rising crime rates, then they are not just out of touch, they're delusional." Ms Uibo said Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had promised her government would establish boot camps in Alice Springs and Darwin to give courts a place to send youth offenders as part of sentencing, but there was no sign of them. A promise to make diversion programs mandatory for youth offenders had also failed to materialise. Ms Finocchiaro has insisted her government is taking action to break the cycle of crime through early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. That included reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children's attendance. Ms Uibo said the budget was the most expensive ever and showed the chief minister's big promises about reining in debt and responsible fiscal management were "up in smoke". The debt, forecast to steadily decrease under the former Labor government's stewardship, would blow out in the next three years under the CLP, she said. The budget showed the territory's net debt sat at $10.55 billion and was projected to rise to almost $14 billion by 2028/29. The latest Northern Territory budget is a missed opportunity to address the root causes of crime and how the justice system fuels repeat offending, the opposition leader says. Selena Uibo, who is also shadow treasurer, gave her budget reply speech on Wednesday after Treasurer Bill Yan outlined a record spend of $1.5 billion on law and order. Ms Uibo said the Country Liberal Party government was putting investment in prisons well above investment in jobs and economic growth, social cohesion and community development. About $500 million will go to corrective services, with Mr Yan saying the government was "unapologetic about shifting the focus from offender rights to the victims' rights to feel safe". He noted the government had provided more than 500 extra prison beds since coming to power in 2024. Tougher new bail laws introduced two weeks ago mean even more beds will be needed. Ms Uibo said being on bail or serving a sentence should never be a pathway to further offending. But that happened when governments failed to invest in intervention, rehabilitation and support programs that broke the cycle of crime and gave people the chance to change course, she said. "This is how we deliver long-term reductions in crime and safer communities across the territory." The CLP government was failing Territorians badly, Ms Uibo said. "Their refusal to invest in meaningful crime prevention will have consequences that reach well beyond this budget cycle," she said. "If the CLP believes their decisions aren't contributing to the territory's rising crime rates, then they are not just out of touch, they're delusional." Ms Uibo said Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro had promised her government would establish boot camps in Alice Springs and Darwin to give courts a place to send youth offenders as part of sentencing, but there was no sign of them. A promise to make diversion programs mandatory for youth offenders had also failed to materialise. Ms Finocchiaro has insisted her government is taking action to break the cycle of crime through early intervention, education, family support and housing initiatives in the budget. That included reforms to improve school attendance and hold parents accountable for ensuring children's attendance. Ms Uibo said the budget was the most expensive ever and showed the chief minister's big promises about reining in debt and responsible fiscal management were "up in smoke". The debt, forecast to steadily decrease under the former Labor government's stewardship, would blow out in the next three years under the CLP, she said. The budget showed the territory's net debt sat at $10.55 billion and was projected to rise to almost $14 billion by 2028/29.
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Post-stabbing bail reforms 'won't keep community safe'
A beloved store owner's fatal stabbing has sparked calls for more to be done to prevent another tragedy in a crime-hit territory. Tough bail reforms are set to be ushered in by the Northern Territory government after 71-year-old Darwin store owner Linford Feick was stabbed to death. However, the NT opposition has called for the territory's justice system to be strengthened further, saying violent offenders "must face the consequences of their actions much sooner". The NT parliament will urgently reconvene on Wednesday to pass bail reform legislation after a teenager was charged with murder over the fatal stabbing. Police said the 18-year-old - identified by media outlets as Phillip Randel Maurice Parry - had been on bail for "serious matters" at the time. NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the government's tough bail reforms would be supported but believed more had to be done. "These changes alone will not keep our community safe," she said in a statement. "More must be done to prevent crime in the first place and our justice system needs to be better resourced to deal with matters swiftly." Changes required included expanding court and legal aid services' capacity to ensure matters were heard as quickly as possible, Ms Uibo said. "It is currently taking over 400 days on average for a criminal matter to be finalised in the Supreme Court - this is too long," she said. "There are now more people in prison on remand - waiting for their court hearing - than there are convicted criminals serving sentences. "This is placing enormous strain on our courts and legal system." The NT's prison population has reportedly risen by more than 500 people since the Country Liberal Party won the 2024 election with a tough-on-crime agenda. New bail reforms will be modelled on Victorian and NSW laws, under which a judge must be satisfied an offender is not going to pose a risk to the community if granted bail. Mr Feick allegedly confronted a thief and was stabbed at the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer on April 23. It comes after Darwin bottle shop worker Declan Laverty was fatally stabbed by a man on bail in 2023, which also ushered in law changes. "No Territory family should ever have to endure the loss of a loved one through senseless violence, as the Feick family is now facing," Ms Uibo said.
