NT opposition calls for even stronger reforms to bail

The NT opposition leader has called for even stronger reforms to bail laws as the government introduces new legislation to create a presumption against bail for violent offences involving a weapon.

A young Indigenous Australian is released from a police cage truck and enters a local youth organisation vehicle to be returned to a town camp near Alice Springs. Picture: Liam Mendes

Alleged criminals in the Northern Territory should be refused bail whether they carry a weapon or not and the Labor government law reforms do not go far enough, Country Liberals say.

Attorney-General Chansey Paech on Wednesday introduced the Bail Amendment Bill 2023 to the NT parliament.

There will also be a presumption against bail for co-offenders who participate in violent offences involving a weapon, even if they do not possess the weapon themselves.

“The serious violent offence must be alleged to have been committed when using or threatening use of a prohibited or controlled weapon,” Mr Paech said.

“They include knives, crossbows, machetes, axes and other weapons that can inflict serious consequences for members of our community.

“The government has taken … strong action to improve community safety.”

NT Opposition Leader Lia Fin­occhiaro said the amendments were “deliberately designed to save face” and called for the amendment to be broadened to include violent offences with no weapon.

NT Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro is calling for stronger amendments to bail laws than what the government is proposing. Picture: Liam Mendes

“It should be government’s absolute intention that this legislation stop people from being bailed in the first place,” she said.

“The Attorney-General has shown … this legislation is ­deliberately designed to save face, deliberately designed to trick Territorians into thinking it’s going to make their lives safer.”

She said the opposition’s amendment would mean “serious violent offenders” would have no presumption of bail – even if they had no weapon.

“What we know is that commonly used weapons are weapons not captured by Labor’s legislation,” she said.

“More often than not, we read stories in the paper and see ­stories on the news where people are being attacked by rocks, cars, star pickets, screwdrivers and commonly available weapons.”

The government has been under increasing pressure over the past few months as the Territory grapples with alcohol and non-alcohol fuelled crime from Darwin down to Alice Springs.

NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles announce a strengthening of bail laws on Tuesday. Picture: Liam Mendes

In parliament on Wednesday, NT independent Robyn Lambley said the government had been “dragged here screaming and kicking to this point”.

The swift introduction of the proposed legislation comes after Darwin Local Court heard last week that teenager Keith Kerinauia, who has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old bottle shop worker Declan Laverty, had been released on bail for alleged aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a “bladed weapon” in 2022.