The 2026-27 Northern Territory Budget includes welcomed investments in infrastructure, but concerningly shows a commitment to prioritising punishment over prevention, says Jesuit Social Services.
"The Honourable Bill Yan, NT Treasurer was right when he said, 'reducing crime is not just about policing' and are committed to 'investing in programs that tackle the root cause of crime'.No one could argue that experiences of family and sexual violence, mental illness and trauma are over-represented in our justice system," says Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards.
"So why is that we have seen cuts to mental health and sexual violence services, and a record amount spent on increasing prison capacity, prisoner camps and policing?
"The cuts to mental health funding (from $135 million to $130 million) are very disappointing given the critical role the sector plays in supporting the community - especially given the impact of cost-of-living pressures and extreme weather events such as the recent cyclones and flooding," says Ms Edwards.
"It's been a tough time in the Territory recently - it's a real pity to see more than half a billion going into corrections when so little is being spent on mental health.
"It's also tragic to see funding for domestic, family and sexual violence services being cut from $71 million to $63 million - we know that these services save lives and play an essential role in keeping the community safe, and that cuts to funding really hurt."
Ms Edwards says that the budget does not alleviate the relentless rising cost of living pressures our community is feeling and focusing on punishment and incarceration is not a sustainable or humane approach to ensuring Territory communities are safe and thriving.
"Now, more than ever, we need genuine and sustainable investments into supporting marginalised people and communities to give them opportunities to life fulfilling and productive lives. This isn't achieve through spending on police and prisons, but through working to keep children connected with school, family and culture; and through vital community services that help people to address underlying problems before they harm themselves or others."
