Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has got us all pretty darn excited! New data demonstrates the “most dramatic” decrease in crime throughout the homeland, attributed to the Country Liberal Party’s (CLP) get-tough-on-crime policies. Yet local residents and opposition leaders are quick to dispute these claims, pointing to the continued clogging their communities.
Finocchiaro stated that since implementing several key policies, including tougher bail laws and lowering the age of criminal responsibility, crime rates have dropped significantly. She focused on the effects of Declan’s Law, which has allegedly resulted in a 38 percent increase in bail rejections.
“When you look from January right through to August, it shows significant drops in crime territory-wide.” – Lia Finocchiaro
Opposition Voices Concern
Even though the Chief Minister is making these claims, local leaders and residents are beginning to doubt the credibility of these crime stats being reported. In an unusual show of unity, Opposition Leader Selena Uibo expressed alarm over the CLP’s plans. She thinks these actions can at best just shift crime problems elsewhere, instead of solving them.
Locals like local leader and longtime resident Annie McKean made clear their concerns regarding crime in the neighborhood. She pointed out that crime—particularly gun violence—hadn’t spiked since 2020. She spoke broadly about the insecurity that comes with navigating urban environments, calling it the everyday fear of people living in cities.
“I do live out of town, but when I do come in, I don’t feel safe around here,” – Olivia Vanderkly
Uibo echoed these concerns, focusing on areas such as Katherine and Tennant Creek where crime statistics continue to be an issue.
“When there are places like Katherine and Tennant Creek, which are not seeing a reduction in crime, what is the plan?” – Annie McKean
Rising Crime Incidents
Recent crime data published by the Northern Territory Attorney-General’s Department tells a different story for the often-troubled territory. Since their launch, Finocchiaro says that overall crime is down. Places like Palmerston have seen spikes in sexual assault and property damage. For Steve Mason, the owner of an indoor play center in Palmerston, this reality hit home one night when two teenagers broke into his facility. The break-in left his specially built multicultural center in ruins.
“It was just pure vandalism and really nasty,” Mason stated. His positive experience should not distract from the terrible realities that new, local businesses have to deal with as crime—particularly in retail stores—continues to rise.
“My wife was in tears when she saw what happened this morning,” – Steve Mason
The break-in at Mason’s play centre serves as a poignant reminder of the chasm between what governments say and what communities are feeling. The opposition Residents like McKean still regularly post about safety concerns, sometimes in real-time via social media as they learn of local crimes.
“We’re part of Facebook, so we see when our neighbors say there are people jumping in their yards … we’re more connected through social media now, so we know what’s going on,” – Annie McKean
The Path Forward
Even as the national debate over rising crime rages on, Finocchiaro stands by her administration’s approach as one that’s bearing positive fruit. According to Uibo and McKean, unless these initiatives produce concrete changes to establish safe schools and a long-term plan, these promises are just empty.
The contrasting perspectives highlight a growing divide between government officials and local residents regarding the effectiveness of current strategies to combat crime. As communities continue to deal with the impact of their safety being endangered, the call for accountability from the CLP government is deafening.
