The Finocchiaro CLP Government is strengthening the justice system to ensure offenders face real consequences, reduce court delays and restore community safety.
As part of the ongoing investment into the court system, the government has:
Appointed an additional full-time Local Court judge and more court staff, which is the largest judicial complement in Territory history;Recruited four new prosecutors and additional support staff to boost prosecution capacity;Transitioned 20 DPP staff onto permanent contracts to retain skilled local workers; andLaunched the Targeted Intervention Group - Early Resolution (TIG-ER) Taskforce to fast-track remand cases and reduce court backlogs, with more than 200 cases already finalised.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said these critical improvements supported the government's plan to reduce crime and restore law and order across the Territory.
"Since coming to office, we've already put more than 600 offenders behind bars. That's 600 fewer criminals on our streets," said Mrs Finocchiaro.
"In just eight months, we've delivered stronger sentencing laws, given police greater powers, and reinstated mandatory sentencing for DVO breaches.
"This is about real action to protect Territorians, and it also delivers on our promise for 2025 to be a year of action, certainty and security.
"The recent crime statistics show our strong on crime policies are working but there is still much more work to be done."
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the Finocchiaro CLP Government was fixing the broken justice system the previous Labor government left behind.
"For too long, Labor let serious and repeat offenders walk free. Courts were clogged, victims were left waiting, and communities were left exposed," said Ms Boothby.
"We are delivering a justice system that works. One that's strong, efficient, and focused on getting results."
The newly formed TIG-ER Taskforce (Targeted Intervention Group - Early Resolution) has already made a major impact.
Since 29 January, it has reviewed 290 remand cases, finalising 213, including 87 guilty pleas.
"One case had sat in the system since March 2024. TIG-ER picked it up and resolved it in just one day," said Ms Boothby.
"Under Labor, these cases were left to rot. We're restoring accountability and speeding up justice which is what Territorians expect."
Ms Boothby said the improvements were part of the CLP's broader approach to reducing crime through a stronger, more responsive justice system.
"For every dollar spent on police, we must invest in the justice system too," she said.
"That's how we deliver lasting reform and safer communities.
"We make no apologies for being strong on crime. Territorians expect and deserve a justice system that works, and that's exactly what we're rebuilding."
