NT politics: Fyles government passes stronger trespass laws in parliament
The government has passed its Trespass Bill 2023 amid calls from businesses and employees to have greater protections from violent offenders. Read what’s changed.
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Stronger trespass laws have passed parliament on the back of calls from frontline workers and businesses bearing the brunt of violent crime.
The government passed the Trespass Bill 2023 during Thursday’s parliament sittings, which Police Minister Kate Worden said would allow more employees as well as security guards to ban unwelcome customers.
Unions representing both retail and hospitality workers and businesses have called for the changes for several months.
“We’ve listened to business owners around these laws, it was really challenging for them to be able to give written notices … then get the addresses and names and identification of people,” Ms Worden said.
“Under the new process, (patrons) only need to be given a warning and if that’s not heeded then they can call police.
“They can also authorise other people to issue a ban notice.”
The new laws are expected to come into effect by May and will grant landlords, employees, security and police the power issue people a ‘direction to leave’ for up to seven days.
A ‘warning to stay off’ can also be issued, banning an individual from entering a premises for up to a year.
The second chance warning will be scrapped for people who refuse to leave, while committing a trespass offence can result in arrest and a possible jail term of up to six months or a fine up to $3240.
While the CLP argued the changes would not go far enough in protecting businesses from crime, the party ultimately supported the Bill.
“The Trespass Bill is just another in a long line of legislation that tinkers around the edges of our crime crisis,” Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said.
“When you take a moment to look at the detail and practical implications, it will do nothing to tackle crime in the Territory.
“There are so many other things that we could be focusing on … why are we not looking at the real causes of offending, like repeat offending, recidivism and breach of bail?”
The new laws will apply to people under the age of 18, despite Chief Minister Natasha Fyles several weeks ago stating publically they would not.
“She stated that the new trespass laws will be for adults, people aged 18 and over,” Mr Edgington said.
“That is patently and verifiably false.”
Govt moves to tackle ‘toxic’ vapes harming Territory kids
MLAs from both political stripes will work together to uncover the impacts of vaping, particularly on Territory kids.
Leader of Government Business Chansey Paech on Wednesday moved to appoint a select committee on electronic cigarettes and personal vaporisers in parliament.
Despite Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro labelling it a “disgrace” in light of other issues facing the Territory, the CLP did not object to the move.
Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said it would be the first cross-chamber committee since 2018.
“Democracy is not alive and well in the Northern Territory parliament,” she said.
“The fact that this is the first select committee we have had in the Northern Territory parliament for the best part of five years is disgraceful and undemocratic.”
The committee will probe the scale, trends and health impacts of vapes in the Territory, with a focus on how prevalent they are among youth.
It will also consider how Territory schools are preventing their students from using vapes.
Mr Paech said the Territory “cannot let this take hold” on its young people.
“Communities are being inundated with these highly addictive and toxic products at the potential expense of our young peoples’ physical and mental health,” he said.
“Governments from across the country recently agreed to establish a national e-cigarette working group to review and devise measures to protect young people from harms of e-cigarettes.
“We have to act now. This inquiry will give us greater insight and oversight of the significant increase in youth uptake of e-cigarettes in our community.”
Ms Finocchiaro took aim at the timing of Labor’s motion, saying there were more “critical” issues to deal with in the wake of Declan Laverty's death.
“Frankly, the fact that you are able to come here with a select committee after knocking back the CLP five times for trying to have a select committee into the police crisis is a disgrace,” she told parliament.
“A select committee motion on vaping should not be the first thing parliament deals with.
“We should be dealing with bail reforms … to make sure that repeat and violent offenders are not left on our streets.”
Independent Goyder MLA Kezia Purick said a select committee on any topic was “long overdue”.
“I concur with some of the sentiments of the opposition that there are more important things that we should be discussing,” she said.
“That said, there is no doubt that vaping is a serious matter in our community, and it is only going to get worse.”
Ms Purick said the committee could result in “real work” but urged it to look at the issue outside Darwin as well.
The committee will be chaired by Fannie Bay MLA Brent Potter and have Daly MLA Dheran Young as Labor’s second member.
The CLP’s Jo Hersey will also join, while one independent must be nominated by Monday.
The select committee is then due to report its findings to parliament by October 30.
‘Enough is enough’: CLP raise no-confidence motion against govt
Territory parliament has stood for a minute’s silence to mark the tragic death of Declan Laverty.
The 20-year-old son, brother, friend and colleague was allegedly stabbed to death while working in a Darwin bottle shop on Sunday night.
A 19-year-old has faced court on charges of murder, aggravated robbery and breach of bail.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro called for the moment of mourning, which the Labor bloc agreed to.
It came before any other government business as parliament started on Tuesday, including the swearing in ceremony of new Arafura MLA Manuel Brown.
The young man’s death was also the first thing Ms Finocchiaro spoke to as she presented a motion of no confidence in the government.
“Natasha Fyles, the Chief Minister and her government has failed Declan’s family,” she said.
“You have failed Declan’s friends, you have failed Declan’s colleagues.
“Their lives will be changed forever.
“Every single day you have failed Territorians as you have not done the very basic role of government, which is keeping the community safe.
“Enough is enough.”
Ms Finocchiaro said the Fyles government had “systematically failed” in protecting Territorians from crime, supporting frontline services and managing the budget responsibly.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles did not sit in the chamber for most of her rival’s speech.
Leader of Government Business Chansey Paech rose to tell parliament the Labor bloc would not support the motion, maintaining his government had a great track record.
“The good Territorians of Arafura have again elected a Territory Labor member to represent them,” Mr Paech said.
“With a 15 per cent swing towards the government – how’s that for confidence.
“The only thing Territorians don’t have confidence in is the leader of the opposition.
“It’s baffling that the leader of the opposition still sits where she does after five consecutive election losses.
“The writing is on the wall.”
Mr Paech also pointed to the CLP’s conflict over its position on the Voice, which led to the party’s president resigning just days before the Arafura by-election.
Opposition members repeatedly called across the chamber for an early Territory election, before the government’s term ends in August 2024.
“I’m confident in this government, this assembly is confident in this government,” Mr Paech said.
“The people of Arafura are confident in this government.
“Come next year, all Territorians can have their say about their confidence.
“Until then, we are getting on with the job of delivering for the people of the Northern Territory.”
A division was then called in which Labor members voted unanimously against the motion.
Independent members Robyn Lambley and Kezia Purick sided with the opposition, while Yingiya Mark Guyala was not present.
Ms Purick later told reporters Labor’s shut down of the motion prevented her from representing her constituents’ concerns on crime.
“A vote of no confidence in the government is a serious matter,” she said.
“It’s when you believe the government has no longer got control of running and operating the Territory.
“The government is hiding, they don’t want scrutiny.
“Even though they promised years ago they would be open and transparent – that’s just a load of bullshit.”
Ms Finocchiaro said her party had collected more than 1000 petition signatures in support of the no confidence motion.
She also said the CLP has tried to fight crime by putting forward legislation on stronger bail laws and granting police more powers to deal with public drunkenness, the latter of which is set to be debated in parliament on Wednesday.
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