NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro (centre) and her team are celebrating a year in power. Photo: Lia Finocchiaro MLA, Facebook.
The Northern Territory’s Finocchiaro Government is celebrating its first year in office, boasting a positive first 12 months with a focus on crime and the economy.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the past year had shown the government was keeping its promises to reduce crime, protect citizens, rebuild the economy and restore the Territory’s lifestyle.
“We came into government with a clear mandate to make the Territory safer, stronger and more secure – and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“The first year was about action, certainty and security. We’ve backed our police, held offenders to account, supported victims, and provided Territorians with confidence in the future of our economy and lifestyle.”
The CLP Government hit the ground running, with a swath of reforms introduced in the first two months, such as stronger support for frontline workers, a crackdown on youth recidivism and the expansion of police powers.
Its stated achievements include:
- Introduction of the strongest bail laws in the Commonwealth;
- New offences targeting perpetrators of ram raids and the online glorification of crime;
- Expansion of wanding powers for police;
- Mandatory minimum sentences for assaults on frontline workers;
- Lowering of the age of criminal responsibility;
- New policing powers for nuisance drinking and powers of entry;
- A $1.5 billion investment in police, courts and the correctional system;
- 146 new police graduates;
- 199 new correctional officers;
- Stronger youth justice laws – including breach of bail as an offence and the mandatory electronic monitoring for repeat offenders;
- Introduction of school attendance officers;
- The circuit-breaker program, supporting children and families to address challenges such as domestic violence, education and health;
- Creation of Police Public Safety Officers deployed to hot-spot areas for crime.
The government said its efforts had resulted in 605 fewer victims of crime for the first half of this year, a 4.7 per cent decrease compared with Labor’s tenure.
“After years of going backwards, the NT is back in business – we are now leading the nation in economic growth and population growth,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“Our Rebuilding the Economy Strategy is about giving Territorians confidence – confidence to invest, confidence to build, and confidence to plan for the future.”
Stated reforms to boost confidence in the economy include:
- Appointment of a Territory Coordinator;
- Establishment of the Approvals Fast Track Taskforce;
- Removing third-party merits review;
- The HomeGrown Territory grants, with more than 900 applicants and $12.6 million paid out.
The government’s lifestyle efforts include:
- Securing 30,000 hectares for national park estates;
- Reintroduction of pet crocodile ownership, with 63 permits already issued to owners;
- Hosting of major sporting events such as MXGP, T20 cricket and the NRL partnership with the Redcliffe Dolphins.
“Territorians can be confident they now have a government with the courage, focus and determination to get the job done – because the NT deserves nothing less,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
