NT politics: CLP to deliver new prisons, up to 1000 extra beds in Territory corrections plan

The Country Liberal Party has matched its tough talk on crime with a new plan to increase the number of Northern Territory corrections beds by up to 1000 over the next four years.

The Country Liberal Party has matched its tough talk on crime with a new plan to increase the number of Northern Territory corrections beds by up to 1000 over the next four years.

Deputy Chief Minister and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley will on Monday unveil a plan that will increase the Territory’s corrections capacity to 3000 beds by 2028.

The new plan will see additional capacity in the Territory’s corrections systems, but also end the practice of housing prisoners in watch houses.

The Holtze Correctional Centre.

It will see the immediate conversion of the Don Dale youth detention centre for temporary use by up to 50 low-security adult male prisoners in December, adding 200 new beds by March 2025.

Other corrections infrastructure to be rolled out include:

* A new secure women’s facility at the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre, providing 48 beds by January 2025

* Expansion of the Alice Springs Correctional Centre with a new 96-bed modular block.

* Development of new work camps in Darwin (150 beds) and Katherine (50 beds) by fourth-quarter 2026

* Construction of a new 150-bed multi-classification women’s prison at Holtze by September 2028

* New youth justice boot camp and bail facilities in Katherine and Tennant Creek.

* Planning for the expansion by between 300-400 additional mens beds at Holtze to begin second-quarter 2025.

There are currently 2177 corrections beds at the Territory’s two prisons and work camps, but the facilities are overflowing, with 2324 inmates behind bars.

Mr Maley said the changes would address eight years of neglect by the previous Labor government which, he said, had “ignored the growing problem”.

Deputy Chief Minister and Corrections Minister Gerard Maley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Labor has left us with a Corrections crisis across the Territory,” Mr Maley said.

“For eight years, they ignored the growing problem, doing nothing as our prisons became overcrowded and overflowed into police watch houses. The CLP is ending the excuses and making the tough decisions necessary to fix this mess.

“We cannot break the cycle of repeat offending while Corrections and Youth Justice are in crisis.

NT Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Community safety is the CLP Government’s top priority. We will resolve the corrections crisis left by Labor, allowing us to then address the unacceptable recidivism rates,” Mr Maley said.

He said when prisoner accommodation arrangements are settled, the focus will shift to rehabilitation.

“Once prisoners are moved out of police watch houses, we will implement the ‘Sentenced to a Skill’ program for youth offenders, and expand the Prison Industries and ‘Sentenced to a Job’ programs, alongside compulsory community service and alcohol and drug rehabilitation,” Mr Maley said.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said the corrections master plan is an investment in critical infrastructure that will allow Corrections to expand capacity and services in both the short and long term.

“This plan enables Corrections to function as an integrated Territory-wide network, addressing prisoner numbers, reducing re-offending, and improving community safety,” Mr Varley said.

He said the prison population has grown by 18 per cent in the past two years, significantly outpacing projections.

“As of September 2024, the NT’s adult correctional facilities are at full capacity, and prisoners are being housed in police watch houses, which presents operational risks,” said Mr Varley.

The CLP’s announcement did not include costings.

Originally published as NT politics: CLP to deliver new prisons, up to 1000 extra beds in Territory corrections plan