In Budget 2019, the Territory Labor Government will continue reforming the youth justice system to teach children consequences and put them on a better path and away from a lifetime of crime.

It will include investments for infrastructure to support alternatives to detention as well as preventative services that encourage young people to engage in positive activities and avoid bad behaviour.

Key investments for alternatives to detention infrastructure include:

·         $10.3 million (over three years) for new and re-purposed facilities to support youth diversion programs, deliver consequences and provide alternatives to detention.

These facilities will provide alternatives to detention in regional areas of the NT.

The facilities will support the Back on Track youth diversion program (announced in December last year) and deliver consequences that help get kids on a better path and away from a lifetime of crime

·         $3.6 million to establish a Barkly Youth Work Camp – an alternative to detention facility in Tennant Creek. 

Funded as part of the Barkly Regional Deal, the new facility will support young people who are participating in the Back on Track program. The facility will include accommodation, skills development and community work programs.

Additional investments into breaking the cycle of youth crime include: 

·         $8.5 million for a new Palmerston Youth Skills Centre to train young people in skills of the future.

·         $1.16 million for seven Youth Engagement Night Officers to engage with youth on the streets of Alice Springs, and $300,000 to expand the Palmerston patrol.

·         $700,000 to extend the hours and transport services of the Alice Springs Youth Drop in Centre.

·         $400,000 for a cultural engagement and outreach program with Aboriginal Elders.

Quotes from Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield

“We are investing in alternatives to detention infrastructure to support programs such as Back on Track, which will help to break the cycle of youth crime in the Territory. Back on Track will deliver alternative to detention programs and will address consequences and community restitution, at-risk behaviour, family responsibility, and training and employment opportunities. Infrastructure investment will support these programs that will come into effect this year.

“The Territory Labor Government is overhauling what was a broken youth justice system to create generational change.  If we don’t invest now to reform the youth justice system and put young people back on the right track, the cost to Territorians will be far greater in the long-term.

“This is how you fix the issue of youth crime – simply locking kids up without reforming them puts them on a path to a lifetime of crime. It doesn’t work, we need to get children on a better path and keep the community safe.

“Unlike the CLP, the Territory Labor Government will not slash and burn youth justice services.”

Media contact:

Paige Nguyen
M: 0428 727 244
E: paige.nguyen@nt.gov.au