Crime buster: Record $1.34 billion on the table to make our homes and streets safe

A whopping $1.34 billion will be allocated to implement the CLP Government’s law and order plans in its first proper Budget since coming to office last August.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the record May Budget spend sends a firm message that law and order is the number one priority for the CLP

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is backing up its hard line on crime with a record spend on law and order in the May Budget to be delivered in two weeks.

The NT News understands a whopping $1.34 billion will be allocated to implement the CLP Government’s law and order plans in its first proper Budget since coming to office last August.

It is believed all three departments - Police, Corrections, and Attorney-General and Justice - are getting a significant boost.

With the Chief Minister’s bolstered laws putting a record number of offenders behind bars, it is expected Corrections will receive the biggest allocation when the 2025-26 Northern Territory Budget is announced.

There will be $112 million more on the table than Labor’s last Territory Budget for the three key law and order departments.

The record law and order spend comes on the back of the CLP this week introducing the strongest bail laws in Australia.

The laws were supported by all sides of politics, except Johnston Independent Justine Davies who abstained from voting.

*A young male kicks another who is on the ground during a street brawl in Alice Springs.

Yingiya Mark Guyula, independent MLA for Mulka, could not be present in the chamber for health reasons.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the record spend sent a firm message law and order was the number one priority for the CLP.

She said her government would continue to deliver on its promise to throw everything needed at reducing crime.

“Since we were elected last August, we have remained laser focused on reducing crime, rebuilding our economy and restoring our lifestyle,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.

“We continue to prioritise reducing crime with the Northern Territory’s biggest ever spend on law and order.”

Ms Finocchiaro said it was the right of every Territorian to be safe and feel safe.

She said the record spend would ensure Territory’s police, corrections, and legal system staff had the tools they needed to do their jobs properly and to protect the community.

“We cannot expect to reduce crime without investing in our police, corrections and justice system,” she said.

“This money is in addition to what we are spending to address the root causes of crime, including the Circuit Breaker program, family responsibility agreements, public housing reforms, and school attendance officers.”

Damage to a car, which was parked out the back of Bojangles Saloon in Alice Springs. Security footage from the morning of April 27, 2025, shows an individual throwing a empty beer keg at the windscreen. Picture: Supplied

Treasurer Bill Yan said his first Budget would deliver on the government’s pledge 2025 would be a year of action, certainty and security.

“That is what we will be delivering in our first Budget,” Mr Yan said.

Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said since coming to office eight months ago, the CLP government had put more than 600 offenders behind bars.

“That’s 600 fewer criminals on our street,” she said.

“There is still much more to do.”

Ms Boothby said as well as bolsterig bail laws, the CLP government had backed up its promises with stronger sentencing laws, given police greater powers, and reinstated mandatory sentencing for DVO breaches.

The NT Budget will be delivered on Tuesday, 13 May.