‘Safety first’: NTG defends its poor Closing the Gap outcomes
NT government defends nation’s ‘worst outcomes’ on Closing the Gap as Attorney-General says government will prioritise ‘community safety’ instead of targets. Read the details.
The NT government has defended its failure to meet Closing the Gap targets as a measure to keep the community safe, drawing the ire of the federal Indigenous Australians Minister, Indigenous groups and a local MLA.
The Closing the Gap targets focus on areas Indigenous Australians are lagging behind their compatriots on issues such as health, education, incarceration and the economy.
The latest 2025 report released in July found Indigenous people in the Territory are going backwards in eight of the 15 assessed target areas.
Indigenous Australians Minister Senator Malarndirri McCarthy was frank in her assessment of the Territory’s lack of progress following a meeting of attorney-generals in Sydney last Friday.
“The Northern Territory has the worst outcomes when it comes to Closing the Gap,” she said.
Senator McCarthy called out the Territory’s recent tough on crime and youth justice reforms.
“Last week, I met with the Northern Territory Chief Minister, in those discussions I made very clear the concerns I have in regards to First Nations youths in watch houses and the reintroduction of spit hoods,” she said.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said her government would put community safety ahead of the targets.
“Our Government acknowledges the Closing the Gap targets, but this cannot come at the expense of community safety,” Ms Boothby said.
“Our government is delivering both: putting victims first through stronger bail laws, while tackling the root causes of crime by keeping kids in school, holding parents accountable, and creating pathways for young people.
“Let’s be clear — nobody wants to see Closing the Gap outcomes worsen, but the last decade shows what was being done simply hasn’t worked.
“That’s why our government has changed direction, putting victims and community safety first, strengthening our laws, and tackling the root causes Labor ignored.”
Independent MLA Justine Davis said the two goals — closing the gap and community safety — could both be achieved.
“Filling our prisons with children and Aboriginal Territorians is not community safety,” she said.
“Community safety and justice for Aboriginal people are not competing goals — they are the same goal.
“True community safety means tackling the real causes of harm: inequality, trauma, lack of opportunity for young people, unstable housing, and unaddressed health and mental health issues.”
Acting chief executive of the peak Aboriginal health organisation body AMSANT, Erin Lew-Fatt, also criticised the top law officer’s comments.
“It is deeply concerning to see the NT Government distance itself from that commitment by framing Closing the Gap targets as somehow at odds with community safety.
“True community safety is for everyone.”
