Taskforce Starlight to combat devastating stock theft in the Territory

THE NT Cattlemen’s Association has won the battle to get a taskforce set up to combat stock theft

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THE NT Cattlemen’s Association has won the battle to get a taskforce set up to combat stock theft in the Northern Territory.

The taskforce is a collaboration between NT Police, Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) Livestock Biosecurity and the NT Cattlemen’s Association.

Named Taskforce Starlight, it will consist of a planning team as well as strategic operations teams made up of veterinary officers, livestock biosecurity officers and NT Police officers based in Katherine, Darwin, Adelaide River, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

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Deputy NT Police Commissioner Murray Smalpage APM said the taskforce had the support “from the highest levels of police” and would “shine a light in the dark corners” of stock crime across the NT.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Agribusiness Minister Nicole Manison said she

was pleased to help deliver the inter-agency taskforce combat stock theft.

“It’s great to have government, industry and NT Police collaborating and ensuring we are doing everything we can to prevent and solve stock related crimes in the Territory”.

The NT cattle industry has long fought for the formation of an official taskforce with the powers to combat stock crime.

NTCA acting chief executive officer Romy Carey said the organisation was confident Taskforce Starlight would significantly reduce stock crimes across the NT.

“Over the years NT pastoralists have had to deal with a lot of stock related crime – from the theft of an animal or two, to calculated large-scale pilfering operations,” Mrs Carey said.

“All theft has serious impacts on pastoralists. Taskforce Starlight has been established in a bid to improve reporting procedures and the investigation process into reports of alleged stock theft.”

As part of the Taskforce, NT Police will be appointed under the Livestock Act to enable further powers for investigation, and a joint awareness training program between police and DITT Livestock Inspectors is being set up to enhance investigation interoperability.

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Set up for 12 months, Taskforce Starlight will also review the Livestock Act to tighten legislative gaps, hold action days across the NT and roll out an awareness program to improve reporting processes.