Finocchiaro CLP Government to use of OC Spray for self-defence legal permanently and extend availability to 16- and 17-year-olds.
The move follows a year-long trial of OC Spray for self-defence which resulted in a 99% success rate.
Licensees, nominees and employees of licensees, security officers and crowd controllers to use OC Spray for lawful self-defence while working at licensed premises.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government will make the use of OC Spray for self-defence legal permanently and expand availability to 16- and 17-year-olds following a year-long trial with a 99% success rate.
New laws will allow licensees, nominees and employees of licensees, security officers and crowd controllers to use OC Spray for lawful self-defence while working at licensed premises.
The new laws will also expand the legal use of OC Spray within households to allow residents and visitors who are not prohibited persons or trespassers to use lawfully owned OC Spray for self-defence at the residence in genuine emergency situations.
This means, for example, a husband will be able to purchase OC Spray for his wife and children aged 16 and above for self-defence in their home.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the new lowered age guidelines would provide an important self-defence option for young people, many of whom hold down night-time jobs.
“Territorians have embraced OC Spray for self-defence and made it clear they want to continue to have access and they want to see that access expanded to younger people,” the Chief Minister said.
“During the trial, we had a lot of feedback about OC Spray only being available to people aged 18 years and over, with many parents telling us that they wanted their 16- and 17-year-olds to have access as well.
“The reality is that we already give 16-year-olds a lot of responsibility – they can drive a car, many of them have jobs and parents want assurance that their children can defend themselves in a dangerous situation.
“Having access to OC Spray could be the difference between life and death, or serious injury.
“We are supporting community safety by providing Territorians with a regulated self-defence option while maintaining appropriate oversight and public safety protections.”
Eligible people aged 16 and 17 will be able to purchase, possess, carry and use controlled OC Spray, with consent required from parents or guardians who must not be prohibited persons.
The new arrangements ban young people from taking OC Spray into schoolgrounds and schools will be able to confiscate and temporarily store and return confiscated OC Spray, which will be reclassified “controlled OC Spray” rather than a prohibited weapon.
To date, 3,776 buyers have purchased 5,976 canisters, including 4,473 purchased in Darwin, 968 in Katherine, 428 in Alice Springs and 107 in Tennant Creek.
NT Police check transactions and purchaser eligibility each day and follow up prohibited purchasers. As at 12 October 2026, police had seized 69 canisters and identified 46 prohibited purchasers, representing just 1.2% of purchasers.
“It is a stunning result to have a 99% success rate with a reform of this magnitude and it’s a great credit to Territorians that they have been responsible and sensible in adopting this self-defence measure,” the Chief Minister said.
OC Spray will continue to be subject to eligibility requirements, safeguards, compliance measures and enforcement provisions.
People who lawfully bought OC Spray during the trial will continue to be able to use the product for self-defence.
