Corrections Minister Gerard Maley estimates up to $100m toll of rising prison numbers
A half a billion spend on the Territory’s prisons is being driven by rising prisoner numbers. See why the government has not ruled out further cash splashes on Corrections.
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A spike in prison numbers could cost the Territory up to $100m over the next 12 months, with the Corrections minister not ruling out further cash injections to the stretched prison system.
On Tuesday, Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said the “record” $495m spend on the Territory’s prison system in the 2025-26 budget would ensure it was “fit for purpose” and functioning.
Mr Maley said $59m, almost half of the additional funding for 2025-26, was just for operational spending to manage the increasing prison numbers, with an additional $40m “held in contingency”.
As of Tuesday 2822 people — 1 per cent of the population — were being held in Territory cells, not including police watch houses.
Mr Maley acknowledged these numbers were expected to increase further, as tough new bail laws were expected to push remand numbers by 32 per cent.
This would bring the NT’s prison population to 3200 people, beyond the capacity of Mr Maley’s 3000-bed four year Corrections Infrastructure Masterplan.
“If you commit a crime in the Northern Territory, we will find a bed for you,” he said.
“If more funding is needed into the future, we’ll go back to the cabinet process”.
Acting Corrections Commissioner Alecia Brimson acknowledged the strain on the system given the current prison numbers.
But when asked if she believed it was a realistic expectation for Corrections to detain 3200 people — nearly 2 per cent of the Territory’s adult population — Mr Brimson said: “Probably not a question I can sensibly answer to be honest”.
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Originally published as Corrections Minister Gerard Maley estimates up to $100m toll of rising prison numbers
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