‘Tough love but show them reward at the end’: Business owners make suggestions to reduce crime

A group of business owners have shared their hardships and experiences of crime in the Northern Territory. Here’s what they said.

A group of Top End business owners have made urgent pleas for the NT government to change the way it tackles crime in the Territory.

About 20 businesses from across the Top End stood under the shed roof at NT Handrails in Yarrawonga on October 18.

Business owners shared the hardships they faced after becoming victims of crime.

The theme of the 45-minute meeting was “change” and “accountability”.

Hosting the event, Donna Roos also asked CLP members to attend.

Her business - NT Handrails - was raim raided on October 13.

“We’re dealing with local governments helping or can I say pissing in our pockets because we’re getting no truth in regards to this,” Ms Roos said.

“This isn’t something that needs to be put on the back burner, this is something that needs to be done ASAP.”

NT Handrails owner Donna Roos speaks about the crime crisis and government inaction at a meeting where CLP members and Top End business owners attended. Picture: Floss Adams.

Read what four Top End business owners had to say at the congregation.

Leader of the opposition Lia Finocchiaro, CLP Member for Nelson Gerard Maley and CLP Member for Brennan Marie-Clare Boothby attended the meeting.

Ms Finocchiaro denounced raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, which the Labour government recently introduced into the parliament.

“The CLP absolutely does not support raising the age of criminal responsibility and if I am Chief Minister in 2024 it will be one of the first things I revert,” she said.

Lia Finocchiaro says she does not support raising the age of criminal responsibility. Picture: Floss Adams.

Ms Finocchiaro said the government did not respect the role businesses played in the Territory community.

“I think what is so powerful about today is that the people standing behind me are the human faces of this government’s policy failures,” she said.

“These are the very people who every single day lock up their businesses, and go home at night wondering if they’re going to get that dreaded phone call, only to have to come into work in the middle of the night and pick up the pieces and go on to fight another day.”

However, the Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said no government had invested more into tackling the “tough and complex” issues than the current leadership.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles says the NT government is listening to community feedback and understands Territorians want to see reduction in the rate of crime. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Victims have always, and will always be at the forefront of any government response to crime and anti-social behaviour,” Ms Fyles said.

“We recently announced an additional $2m into the Victims of Crime NT, which will expand their support to more Territorians, along with providing more financial assistance for vehicle and home resecuring and community safety projects.”

Ms Fyles said strong bail reforms, more sentencing options for courts and additional police were among some of the latest string of investments addressing crime.

“We are listening to victims and the community and making improvements right across the Territory – because we know Territorians want to see action,” she said.