Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro calls for more transparency on effectiveness of new youth bail laws

The opposition has demanded more transparency on whether or not repeat offenders are continuing to be released on bail, after Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said new youth crime laws could take 18 months to make a difference.

THE opposition has demanded more transparency on whether or not repeat offenders are continuing to be released on bail.

The call came after Territory Families Minister Kate Worden on Friday said new youth crime laws could take 18 months to make a difference.

The new laws came into effect last month after months of deliberation.

CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro said 18 months was too long to wait and see whether the laws were having their intended effect of preventing youth offenders being released on bail if they breach their conditions.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Che Chorley

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“We would expect the government are watching on a daily basis whether or not their legislative reform is working,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Kicking the can down the road for 18 months might be OK … but the Territory government would know today, whether or not youths on bail with serious breaches of bail are continuing to get bail,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the NT government said ministers were receiving up-to-date data regularly.

“The youth reforms are now in effect and there are repeat offenders that are currently facing more consequences under these reforms,” the spokeswoman said.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden. Picture: Justin Kennedy

“There will be a review in 18 months, however agencies are already regularly reporting to their ministers on how the reforms are tracking,” she said.

The new laws were passed in mid-May, and gathered scrutiny from advocacy groups for potentially further worsening rates of reoffending and recidivism among youth criminals.

The CLP however pushed for tougher laws, at one stage proposing their own laws which were voted down by Labor MLAs.