Violent offences committed by young people have skyrocketed in the Northern Territory to their highest level since at least 2016. The Northern Territory government is blaming “multiple reasons” for the jump, including COVID-19 as it proceeds with another review into the issue.
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00:00 Violent attacks by children and teenagers are soaring in the territory to their highest
00:07 rate in at least seven years.
00:09 A lot of it's drugs, the alcohol, domestic violence plays a lot of part of it, poverty,
00:15 neglect, abuse in all forms.
00:18 NT government data seen by the ABC shows violent offences by people aged between 12 and 17
00:25 have spiked dramatically in recent years, up by more than 50% from 2016 and continuing
00:32 to climb.
00:34 The Chief Minister denying her government's lost control of the issue.
00:37 No, we haven't.
00:39 There is not just one reason why, there would be multiple reasons why we see increases in
00:45 youth crime.
00:46 Amid ongoing fear in the community, the government's promised it is acting, announcing another
00:51 review into the Youth Justice Act.
00:54 But some aren't convinced a new review will change anything.
00:58 The very fact that she could possibly even consider and get away with suggesting another
01:03 review in 2024 highlights the hubris of politicians in making such an outrageous suggestion.
01:14 More than six years since a Royal Commission was held into youth justice in the territory,
01:18 some of its key recommendations haven't been met.
01:22 One of the former commissioners fears this new review is just a hollow election pitch.
01:27 I think the public's entitled to ask what difference will they commit to here, you know,
01:34 and it seems like talk is pretty cheap these days.
01:38 The Minister responsible standing by the plan.
01:42 It's important that we review legislation and systems to ensure that they are fit for
01:47 purpose for the territory we live in today.
01:49 How she can possibly even be advised that she could bring this card out again just shows
01:56 you what a mess we're in.
01:58 With an NT election looming, there may yet be more short term promises for a long term
02:03 problem to come.
02:05 Matt Garrick, ABC News.
02:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]