The Northern Territory government has repeatedly failed to meet its Closing the Gap targets, especially when it comes to youth incarceration. And while there has been some progress, as reported by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, this is not enough. In the current 2023/24 cycle, the national rate of youth incarceration has more than doubled. Unfortunately, this dangerous trend is getting worse with no sign of slowing down from the baseline year of 2018/19.
The Northern Territory is well known for its increasing youth detention rates. It has recently however been dubbed the worst-performing jurisdiction in Australia. Alarmingly, it’s reported that the gap is increasing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This trend touches eight essential conditions of confinement, from juvenile detention to adult jails and prisons. Nationally, only four of the 19 targets due by 2031 are on track to be achieved.
Rising Youth Incarceration Rates
Recent national data indicates a disturbing spike in all states and territories youth incarceration rates. Unfortunately, the Northern Territory is leading the way in this trend of national shame. Behind the rosy numbers lies a deeply troubling trend. Over one-third of children in youth detention last year first entered the system that early—between the ages of 10 and 13. This early entry into the justice system is problematic in myriad ways, from how and when we intervene to promising interventions that may be failing.
The current climate is particularly scary. A recent report found almost 400 Indigenous children were held in Northern Territory police watch houses in only a half-year period. Advocacy reports documented at least 19 incidents of self-harm by these children while in custody. These rising rates of incarceration only further illustrate our inability to adequately address the underlying causes of youth crime.
This week, Malarndirri McCarthy recognised the progress that had been made but reiterated the fact that the gap is a still burning shameful gap. “While some improvements have been noted, we must recognize that much work still lies ahead,” she stated.
The Role of Community Programs
Innovative organizations like BushMob are taking up the slack to deliver critical, supportive services to the young people who need them most. The organization’s youth programs intertwine cultural and therapeutic activities, allowing powerful space for youth to heal and find purpose within the community. It incorporates traditional practices such as on-country bush camps and horse therapy. Through creating that culturally safe, non-judgmental space, BushMob hopes to promote that feeling of connection and shared experience among Indigenous young people.
In a joint statement on behalf of BushMob, their representative Jock MacGregor described the isolated challenges that many young people are experiencing today. “When I talk to young people about what’s going on with life … they feel like there’s no choice, they feel like there’s no support,” he explained. These thoughts speak to a larger crisis of loneliness and disconnection faced by Indigenous young people.
The demand for early intervention programs far outweighs the supply. Selwyn Button, Productivity Commissioner, and a proud Gungarri man. For instance, he calls for a change from often punitive responses to more effective preventive approaches. “What we’re asking governments to think about is what early intervention programs you can design … so that our young people aren’t ending up in the criminal justice system,” he urged.
Critique of Current Approaches
Now critics, including the Australian Medical Association Northern Territory, are raising alarm bells over the Northern Territory government’s handling of youth justice. The “tough-on-crime” strategy hasn’t proven effective, as was recently shown in the annual Closing the Gap data. This method is commonly regarded as a failure to prevent youth offending by not addressing the root social drivers.
There’s a direct link, too, between punitive policies and increasing incarceration rates, according to Selwyn Button. “You can’t actually arrest your way out of an issue,” he stated. His comments underscore a growing consensus among experts. They know that to address serious systemic issues it takes a multi-faceted approach, not simply a ramp up in policing.
In this vein, Katie Kiss, an Indigenous rights activist, condemned the government’s approach to youth crime. “Each of those targets that are under the Closing the Gap agreement represents a human rights violation,” she asserted, highlighting the urgency of addressing these failures.
Gerard Maley, another powerful voice in this discussion, made a strong case for finding the balance. “Territorians have a right to safe streets and communities, victims have a right to a responsible justice system, and serious offenders have the right to remain silent,” he stated. This point of view illuminates the deeper, interwoven tensions at work in conversations about what justice and safety look like in Indigenous communities.