Territory Government responds to human rights criticism

Children’s rights are being violated under the Finocchiaro Government, an international human rights organisation claims. However, Attorney-General Marie Clare Boothby says she makes “no apologies”. Details.

Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby has defended the government’s decisions on tackling crime amid criticism from Human Rights Watch. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Children’s rights are being violated under the Finocchiaro Government, says an international human rights organisation, which claims Australia’s “vibrant democracy” is being “marred” by the treatment of children, including those in the Territory.

Human Rights Watch has released its ‘World Report 2025’ findings, examining more than 100 countries and their human rights performance from the past 12 months.

Australia attracted more than five pages’ worth of criticism - more than the likes of Mozambique, Tajikistan and Chad.

In October, 2024, protestors made their objections to lowering the age of criminal responsibility known. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The report hit out at Australia’s track record regarding the rights of asylum seekers, First Nations people, women, and the elderly, as well the treatment of the LGBTQ community and the disabled.

However, the issue of ‘youth justice’ drew the ire of the report first, with the Finocchiaro Government’s move to lower the age of criminal responsibility noted as a point of concern.

Also highlighted was the decision to reintroduce spit hoods, which the report said “raises human rights concerns”.

NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby (left) with Member for Katherine Jo Hersey (right) front the media in Darwin.Picture: Harry Brill.

Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would “make no apologies” for its decision on crime.

“Our government was clear when we when we took the crime being the issue to the election, Territorians overwhelmingly voted for us to take drastic action on crime in our community, which had been just totally neglected by the previous Labor government,” she said.

“Territorians knew that we would lower the age of criminal responsibility because we know that if you drop a child back to a parent, they’re going to be back out on the streets the next day committing more crimes.

“That is not the life we want to see for our young people, and it is not what Territorians deserve to go through when they are wanting to live their lives.”

Ms Boothby rejected claims her government was ignoring expert research, maintaining lowering the age of criminal responsibility was not about “throwing away the key”.

“Territorians expect us to make these tough decisions, and they deserve to be safe. My priority is to ensure that the 255,000 Territorians who want to live here and love it are safe from repeat offenders, serious offenders.”

In October, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro was pressed by international media on the lowering of age of criminal responsibility. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

It is not the first time the Finocchiaro Government has drawn overseas interest for its position on youth offenders, with the Chief Minister pressed on the matter by international media in October when she introduced legislative reform.

At the time, Ms Finocchiaro dismissed suggestions there would be an increased perception Australia was home to “huge inequalities” and “racism”, saying the previous Territory Government’s laws were inadequate.

“Those laws do not meet community expectation and they do not allow the government to intervene early in these young peoples lives when they committing such offences.”