8 May 2023
The Territory Labor Government is investing $39 million in Budget 2023 to build on its Smarter Justice for a Safer Territory reforms.
Our investment includes:
A further $15 million towards key initiatives under the Aboriginal Justice Agreement including Alternative to Custody facilities in Alice Springs and Groote Eylandt; and the establishment of Community Courts and Law and Justice Groups in six communities; and$24 million to design and deliver new offender programs to stop people being caught in the revolving door at the prison gate. This covers additional staffing and resources for NT Community Corrections.
Additionally, $12.3 million will help to alleviate justice demand pressures including:
$3.84 million over two years from 2022-23 for the NT Legal Aid Commission; and$5 million over two years from 2023-24 for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Budget 2023 also delivers funding for two new Local Court Judges.
Acknowledging the high remand prisoner population, $14 million over four years enables the continuation of supported bail accommodation; and funding for additional probation and parole officers in courts to improve processing times for bail assessments.
Quotes attributable to Attorney General and Minister for Justice Chansey Paech:
“Our Government is proud of our reforms that provide smarter justice for a safer Territory, and Budget 2023 provides the investment required to rollout a range of programs to break the cycle of crime.
“We are supporting Alternative to Custody centres in Alice Springs and Groote Eylandt, and looking at other sites to establish these facilities because the trial has worked well, and has changed many lives for the better.
“Funds to implement our sentencing reforms provide for more programs to address the drivers of offending behaviour; and to establish Community Courts and Law and Justice Groups.
“Further, we are continuing our supported bail accommodation programs; and increasing support to legal services to ensure they can carry on with the good work they do to deliver fair, equitable justice to all Territorians.”
