NT post and boast laws to introduce maximum two year penalty for offenders seeking online notoriety

Territorians who post videos of crimes online could face up to two years behind bars under new ‘post and boast’ laws set to be introduced when parliament sits this month.

Territorians who post videos of crimes online could face up to two years behind bars under new laws set to be introduced.

The “posting and boasting” laws will form part of a large law and order agenda the government plans to introduce to the first sittings of parliament on October 15, including tougher bail laws, more police powers and lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

Post and boast laws will introduce a stand-alone offence imposing a maximum penalty of two years in prison for any person who promotes certain crimes online for the purpose of notoriety.

It will cover criminal activity shared online, including violent offences, property damage, theft, stealing a motor vehicle, police pursuits and robbery, posted on social media platforms.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the posting and boasting laws would not apply to people who post on social media to raise awareness of criminal activity, Territorians seeking information about a crime or to media reporting.

“If you commit a certain crime and try to be a hero about it by posting the crime on social media, you’re glorifying the fact that you’ve done the wrong thing, which will not be tolerated,” she said.

“This is about ensuring our laws act as a deterrent to committing crimes, that there are consequences, and offenders are held accountable for their actions.

“This is purely about drawing a line in the sand about what is acceptable or not, and filming yourself or your mates committing a crime and gloating about it online is not okay.”

It comes as NT Police this week warned videos of illegal activity posted online could be encouraging young Territorians to act up – including those shared by innocent members of the public.

NT Police Assistant Commissioner Janelle Tonkin said she understood the community wanting to express its frustration, but warned sharing the videos could have unintentional consequences.

“We are aware from the conversations that we have with young people that engage in these behaviours that they do see themselves on those pages, and no doubt that does fuel their behaviour,” she said.

Mrs Finocchiaro said other laws ready to be passed in the first sittings of parliament included Declan’s Law, criminalising bail breaches, electronic monitoring for people on bail, ram raid legislation, lowering the criminal age of responsibility from 12 to 10, and minimum mandatory sentences for assaulting frontline workers.

“Community safety is my government’s number one priority, and Territorians are right to expect that we will deliver on these new law and order measures as promised,” she said.