Chief Minister
Media Release CLP's new measures to hold young offenders accountable
4 July 2025
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is taking strong action to break the cycle of youth crime and restore community safety, announcing new measures in Alice Springs today, that will ensure serious young offenders face real consequences.
Amendments to the Youth Justice Regulations 2006 will expand the list of serious offences that are ineligible for youth diversion. Offenders that commit 13 additional serious offences will no longer get the benefit from Labor's previous catch and release scheme.
Chief Minister and Minister for Police Lia Finocchiaro said the days of police being a taxi service for youth offenders and dropping them home are over.
"For too long, Labor oversaw a system that allowed young offenders to avoid consequences and reoffend days or even hours later putting the community and the frontline at further risk," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
Under the new changes offences including serious harm offending, hit and runs, driving stolen vehicles, assaults on frontline workers and break ins will now have a default position of proceeding to charge.
"Labor put the rights of offenders over their victims and the community and that ends under my government," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"Today's changes were asked for by the NT Police who are sick and tired of Labor's weak-kneed approach to law and order.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the message is clear: the CLP Government will not tolerate repeat offenders and their apologists putting community safety last.
"Community safety remains our number one priority. Through our year of action, certainty and security, we're giving police the tools they need as we continue to roll out reforms aimed at reducing crime.
"That's why we've invested $1.5 billion in police, courts and corrections - the largest law and order funding in Territory history - alongside significant investments tackling the root causes of crime.
We are delivering a safer Territory and making sure victims, and the community can have confidence that the system is working," she said.
The CLP Government remains committed to ensuring legislation reflects community expectations, and in July will introduce the rewrite of the Youth Justice Act 2005.
