The NT and Queensland say they are delivering on a range of law-and-order election promises. Photo: NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
The police forces of the Northern Territory and Queensland are collaborating in an effort to tackle crime and improve community safety.
Key talks are set to take place this week in Darwin between Minister for Fire and Emergency Services and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Lia Finocchiaro and Dan Purdie, Queensland’s Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
Mr Purdie visited Darwin for the recent National Emergency Management Ministers’ Meeting. During the forum, which brought together ministers from around the Commonwealth and resulted in numerous inter-agency commitments, the two ministers exchanged information and insights regarding their challenges.
Queensland and the NT share borders and many of the same crime issues, including youth offending and recidivism. Both ministers spoke about strategies for crime prevention and early intervention.
Queensland recently announced the success of Operation Marshall, a proactive policing plan that sends patrols into high-crime areas.
“Queensland and the Northern Territory face many of the same challenges, especially when it comes to youth crime, regional policing, and emergency services capability,” Chief Minister Finocchiaro said.
“Minister Purdie and I had a productive discussion about the strong, decisive actions our governments are taking to keep communities safe and hold offenders to account. Whether it’s strengthening bail laws or backing our frontline officers, we are both focused on delivering practical, no-nonsense solutions.”
Both governments came to power on the back of anti-crime “law and order” campaigns, which attacked a perceived weakness of former Labor governments to deal with crime.
The NT’s CLP Government has released statistics that it says have vindicated its strategy and garnered strong results.
Comparing January to May of 2024 with the same period in 2025, the Territory has experienced less property crime and theft. Robberies have been reduced by 29 per cent, house break-ins have fallen 31 per cent and commercial break-ins are down 16 per cent.
Ms Finocchiaro credited the results to the CLP’s reform agenda, specifically bail changes, expanded police powers, more officers and a government focus on victims of crime.
“Our reforms are working; tougher penalties, targeted policing, and systemic change are driving results. And we’re not stopping here, and we know we have more to do,” she said.
More reforms are planned, with the Youth Justice Act set to be changed during this month’s sitting of Parliament.
