NT Budget 2025: Record law and order spend in CLP’s first budget
The 2025-26 NT Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, promising a record spend on police, prisons and courts as the CLP prioritises its law and order agenda.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The 2025-26 NT Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, promising a record spend on police, prisons and courts as the Country Liberal government prioritises its law and order agenda.
At the last budget update the Territory was on track to reach $15 billion in debt within three years, and there are no signs the CLP will attempt to rein in spending in this year’s books.
Treasurer Bill Yan said money had been reprioritised from different areas to focus on law and order, flagging cuts made from the infrastructure program.
“We’ve been quite fair about how we’ve reprioritised money across the budget, and we have seen, I believe, an overall increase in the budget from last year, to make sure that we hit the mark on community safety,” he said earlier this month.
Mr Yan defended attending a five-day remote fishing competition in the days leading up to the budget being handed down.
The Treasurer volunteered as chief marshal at the Barramundi Classic last week, without taking leave from his ministerial role.
He said most of the work on the Budget had already been done, and that he had time to work on both projects during the week.
“By day it’s barra, by night it’s Budget,” he posted on social media.
The Opposition accused the CLP of lacking a clear economic vision for the Territory, and failing to invest in crime prevention measures alongside crime response.
“Tomorrow’s Budget is shaping up to be one of cuts and chaos,” Labor leader Selena Uibo said on Monday.
“If we want to move the Territory forward, Territory jobs, families and communities must come first.”
Budget 2025-26 will deliver a record $1.34bn total for police, corrections and Attorney-General and justice.
The CLP also made several last minute budget announcements on Monday, including more support for victims of crime, payroll tax changes to help charities, and its plan to tackle root causes.
MORE TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF CRIME
This year’s budget will include an additional $15 million over five years to support victims of crime.
That includes $12.2m for compensation payments and frontline Crime Victim Service Unit staff, $2m for initiatives such as the Vehicle Re-Secure Program, $800,000 in grants for trauma counselling for victims, and a 30 per cent increase to the Victims of Crime Levy.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the extra funding would help clear the backlog of claims, repair the system, and make sure victims are supported into the future.
“We inherited net debt projected to reach $12.3bn by 2027-28, but victims can’t wait,” she said.
“We’re focused, we’re acting, and we’ll fund what matters. This is about compassion and accountability.
“Crime won’t be fixed overnight, but victims deserve to know they’re not alone.”
PAYROLL TAX FOR CHARITIES AND AGED CARE
Payroll tax reforms will make it easier for charities and non-profits to operate in the Territory.
From July 1, outdated rules will be scrapped which blocked payroll tax exemptions for charities and non-profits if their work was considered commercial or competitive, even when delivering essential services such as aged care, disability support, or childcare.
Treasurer Bill Yan said the changes would cut red tape and support frontline services.
“This means more money going into local services,” he said.
“We’re making the system fairer, simpler, and more supportive of the organisations that serve our community.”
The changes will bring the NT into line with other states and make it easier for charities to grow and invest.
Health Minister Steve Edgington said the reform was also a big step toward fixing aged care shortages in Darwin and Alice Springs.
“Aged care is a Commonwealth responsibility, and the Northern Territory is not receiving its fair share of funding because there are insufficient registered aged care providers,” Mr Edgington said.
“This important change to the Payroll Tax Act 2009 helps create a more attractive environment for aged care providers to step in and invest in the Territory and build the beds that need to be built.
“By reducing financial barriers and broadening eligibility, we’re encouraging more not-for-profit entities to establish services here by improving access and choice for our seniors and ensuring older Territorians receive the quality care they deserve.”
The NT now has the highest aged care occupancy rate in the country and the fewest beds per capita.
In Greater Darwin, up to 80 hospital beds are filled daily by long-stay aged care patients, putting pressure on hospitals and limiting access for others.
TACKLING ROOT CAUSES
The NT government says a broad package of education, housing, early intervention and family support programs will help tackle the root causes of crime, despite no major new announcements in any of those portfolios.
Budget 2025–26 will not make any cuts to child protection and out of home care services, and will increase funding for domestic violence services to $36m annually.
It includes $6.6m a year in ongoing funding for the Circuit Breaker program, now operating in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine.
The program targets young people aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of entering the youth justice or child protection systems, offering intensive case management and family support; supervised accommodation where no safe family or housing option is available; local frontline supervision to keep at-risk youth off the streets; and efforts to keep kids in school and families accountable.
The CLP said it remained committed to the $4bn remote housing and $1bn education agreements signed last year with the commonwealth.
It also backed a six-year $842.6m agreement with the federal government and Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT to deliver a range of services in remote communities.
Items in the budget include $204.1m for family support services and $20.9m for child protection; $138.6m for out-of-home care and $73.2m to support homelessness services; $6.1m over five years — and $1m ongoing — to expand the Family Safety Framework for those at risk of serious domestic, family and sexual violence; $18m over five years to continue men’s behaviour change programs across the Territory; and $3.3m over five years for grassroots prevention projects.
“This Budget addresses the drivers of crime at their source, so our kids are supported, families are strong, and communities are safer,” Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said.
WHAT ELSE HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED?
- $7m extra for the Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services
- $36m a year for domestic violence services, including almost $18m for the delivery of new programs
- $4.6m for the Northern Suburbs Youth Hub
- $6.6m to upgrade the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre
- $16m to operate the new mental health unit under construction at Royal Darwin Hospital
- $126m more for Corrections
- $1.34bn total for police, corrections and the Attorney-General’s department
More Coverage
Originally published as NT Budget 2025: Record law and order spend in CLP’s first budget
Revealed: Upgrades proposed for Red Centre oval by charity with $57m to spend
A charity with $57 million at their disposal have shared their vision on upgrading the Red Centre’s premier AFL venue, and it’s proposing to change the entire Alice Springs sporting landscape.
Maningrida to lose security guards as funding deal ends
The Arnhem Land community fears crime will return to their town after NT Police chose not to continue co-funding security in the town.