NT govt cops flak for lowering age of criminal responsibility

By PETER ROWE

A leading Indigenous elder has criticised the new NT government for potentially harming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths by lowering the age of criminal responsibility in its jurisdiction.

Pat Turner, Joint Council Co-chair of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, said the move highlighted serious issues in justice system where many young people are detained long before their cases are resolved.

“That means they’re on remand, spending an average of 55 days in custody, and some are held up to 100 days, she told the Closing the Gap meeting in Perth on Friday.

“To truly support our young people we must embrace strength-based, culturally safe pathways that focus on healing and rebuilding connections with culture, family and community.”

Currently 84 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged between 10 and 17 in detention are unsentenced.

Ms Turner said that Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations play a critical role in developing and delivering programs for youth and families.

“These organisations keep young people engaged in education, foster a sense of belonging and provide support where it’s most needed.” she said.

“Many ACCOs also offer housing support, helping young people to have a safe place to sleep, an essential service for addressing the underlying factors that often lead to homelessness.

“Housing is more than just a roof; it is a foundation to health, strong families, stable employment and brighter futures.

“Housing reform must be a core priority for Closing the Gap, recognising its strong links to improve health, educational outcomes and economic participation. The housing and homelessness intergovernmental agreement policies are a clear way to quarantine funding to meet the dire housing needs of our people.”

Ms Turner called for a shift to culturally safe, community-driven programs requires governments to follow through on their commitment to redirecting resources.

“Australia needs to move forward in the transforming of our approach to youth justice and strengthening the wellbeing and safety of our young people,” she said.

“Reform must prioritise prevention and support initiatives led by the community.”

Ms Turner cited the work of the First Nations Health Worker Traineeships Program, where hundreds of trainees are working towards Certificate III and IV level qualifications in primary health care.

“These traineeships are making a real difference, ensuring that rural and remote areas have qualified health workers and enabling our people to access healthcare they can trust, knowing that their cultural needs will be respected,” she told the conference.

All States and Territories were represented at the meeting, apart from the new Liberal government in Queensland, who sent apologies.

* Read Senator McCarthy’s comments at the Peak Organisations gathering in our opinion pages.