Your 2024 NT Election Guide Amnesty International: Your NT Election Guide 2024

About the 2024 Northern Territory election

The election to determine the next government of the Northern Territory will be held on Saturday, 24 August. We asked the candidates what their policies are on raising the age of criminal responsibility and funding diversion programs that are proven to work. Check out your electorate below and make an informed decision when you vote.

Background

First Nations kids are 26 times more likely than their peers to be incarcerated. Prison doesn’t teach children a lesson. It puts them on a pipeline to reoffending and causes them irreparable trauma, removes them from their culture and support systems. First Nations kids make up nearly 100% of the incarcerated youth population in the Northern Territory, and they’ll continue to be the worst affected unless real change happens. All of the experts agree – kids don’t belong in prison.

There’s a simple solution

We can give kids the support they need through community-led programs that address the root causes of trauma and disadvantage. These programs already exist, and they’re working. The Northern Territory government’s own research shows us that 76% of kids who complete diversion programs don’t reoffend within 12 months.

What do we want from the next NT government?

Raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14; in line with international human rights standards and the expert advice that tells us kids don’t belong in prison. It doesn’t teach them a lesson. It puts them on a pipeline to reoffending and causes them irreparable trauma, removes them from their culture and support systems.
Prevent the age of criminal responsibility from being lowered to 10 – which some voice are calling for, and in doing so – ignoring the available data that tells us locking up kids does not improve community safety. We all want a safer Northern Territory, but evidence shows that locking up children does not make our community any better off.
Fund Indigenous led and evidence based alternatives to prison. On average, it costs taxpayers $1 million to incarcerate a child per year. We’re calling on governments to instead start investing these funds in justice that works – that embraces therapeutic and rehabilitative methods, addresses the underlying causes of problematic behaviour in children and diverts kids away from the criminal justice system.