Finocchiaro doubles down on CLP’s tough on crime strategy
Lia Finocchiaro held her first media conference since being elected chief minister and used it to double down on crime. Hear her speak here.
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Chief Minister-elect Lia Finocchiaro has used her first media interview since Saturday’s election to double down on her plan to fix law and order, but declined to say how the CLP would measure the success of its tough on crime plans.
Ms Finocchiaro said chief executive of the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet Ken Davies would continue in the role beyond his expected retirement at the end of the year and she was proud to “stand side-by-side” with Police Commissioner Michael Murphy.
Speaking at Parliament House on Monday, Ms Finocchiaro said the policies the CLP took to the polls were part of a broader plan to rebuild the Territory economy and restore lifestyle.
Ms Finocchiaro confirmed she would be police minister in the new government and that bail reform legislation, the so-called Declan’s Law, would be tabled in the first week of parliament.
The CLP will also lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10.
“There is much work to do and the days and weeks ahead will be busy, but our priorities are very clear,” she said.
“This will be a very stable transition.
“We want to make sure Territorians and our public service are part of that change and understand the direction of the CLP government going forward. It’s very, very important to me and my entire team that we steadily fix the direction of the Northern Territory but that our public service and particularly our police and whole of government response to addressing law and order is something that must be started immediately.
“I have full confidence in our ability to deliver on all of our commitments to Territorians and I look foreword to the opportunity to serve them.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to stand here as chief minister elect and I can make sure and say very clearly that under our government we look forward to delivering on reducing crime, rebuilding our economy and restoring our lifestyle.”
She said the change of government was an opportunity to regain the confidence of police amid a morale and personnel crisis.
“I know that our police are hardworking and they’re there because they believe in a safer Territory,” she said.
“They want to pull on that blue uniform every single day to serve and protect our community.
“My job as chief minister is to make sure they know that my government has their back and I said in no uncertain terms to the police commissioner that his police have our full support and they will be provided with the laws and resources they need to make our community safe.”
Asked how she would measure the success of the CLP’s policies, Ms Finocchiaro said the government would be judged on its actions.
“I know that I’ve taken all necessary steps in the 36 hours since voting closed to make sure that the tone of this government is about community safety, its about making sure our police are supported, that we have laws that meet community expectations, that there are consequences for offending, but we address the root causes of crime in the first place,” she said.
Ms Finocchiaro said she expected the Territory parliament would resume sittings in October.
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