LIVE UPDATES: Debate around proposed youth bail laws kicks off in parliament with Opposition leader slamming bill

DEBATE in NT parliament around the controversial youth bail laws has kicked off, with Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro describing the bill is “rushed” and “watered down.” READ THE LIVE UPDATES.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro has slammed the bill in NT parliament. picture: Che Chorley

• Gunner government’s proposed new youth bail laws seriously flawed

DEBATE in NT parliament around the controversial youth bail laws has kicked off, with Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro describing the bill is “rushed” and “watered down.”

The new Bill includes a range of measures that aim to crack down on repeat youth offenders including the a presumption against bail being applied to a number of prescribed offences.

Ms Finocchiaro took the floor to tear the Bill apart, saying it does not go far enough to tackle repeat offending and has a number of technical flaws.

“This bill is so weak,” she said. There are plenty of places to hide in the legislation.

“The trickier you make it, the more carve outs you put in, people will find a way (to offend).

“What amounts to a serious breach of bail is extremely, extremely limited.

“The devil is in the detail and the detail is certainly coming home to roost today, Madam Speaker.”

10:45am

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden then took the floor to hit back at Ms Finocchiaro, saying if she “thinks we haven’t discussed these sorts of amendments with the people on the ground, the police who have informed us about some of the difficulties, she’s living in la la land.”

“The bill is based on operational intelligence.”

She said the changes Labor have made to the youth justice system since 2016 compliment these latest measures.

“If we want to build an effective justice system we have to rise above populism and ensure consequences are real proportionate timely and effective,” she said.

“Changes made in the last four years are what are making a difference.”

She said the reforms aim to target a small group of repeat youth offenders.

“We have closed the loopholes today that can lead to unintended consequences over the last few years,” Ms Worden said.

“You will be held to account, you will face consequences of your behaviour, and we have a system to support you and your families, to make a better decision and choose a better path.”

11:35am

Independent Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley said the proposed laws are a “backflip” on previous statements made by the Labor government regarding youth justice.

“It’s only 18 months ago since the former Minister for Territory Families Dale Wakefield introduced the Youth Justice and related Legislation Amendment Bill 2019,” she said.

“And one of the key statements she made in that speech … was locking children and hoping they will change was never a smart approach. Yet we’re seeing this government effectively change legislation to increase the number of juveniles fears that will be locked up by this very government.

“This backflip is quite extraordinary, Madam Speaker, and I think most of us – whether you agree or not with the legislation they’re putting through today – we’re all left scratching our heads thinking ‘what do these people really stand for?’”

1:34pm

Police Minister Nicole Manison addressed media on amendments made to the youth justice which are yet to be introduced to parliament.

The amendments include a section which allows a court to release a youth on their original bail after reoffending in “exceptional circumstances”.

Ms Manison was asked why the amendments give discretion back to judges after the original Bill seems to be aimed at taking it away.

“The intent of the legislation is very clear, and I have no doubt that the courts will interpret it that way.”

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