'Recipe for disaster': advocates condemn plan to bring in guns for bus and public housing officers in the NT
Alyawarra and Luritja woman Chrystal Roberts says she is "appalled" by the latest move from the Northern Territory Government that will see officers with guns on busses and in public housing. "It's targeting our mob," Ms Roberts told NITV News. "There are language barriers, we've got our mob suffering from mental health, people with drug and alcohol [issues] ... put the money back to where we really need it."
The CLP Government and NT Police, this week announced they are developing a new Police Public Safety Officer (PPSO) stream, which will see existing public safety officers trained and armed as NT police officers. In addition to carrying guns, the PPSOs will wear NT Police uniforms and operate under NT Police command targeting antisocial behaviour and high-visibility patrols. Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) chief executive Dr John Paterson said the move continues a worrying trend of reactive, punitive policies that weaponise public safety. 'This will not make anyone safer," he said. "It will instead escalate confrontations, increase the likelihood of violent incidents, and put the lives of vulnerable people – including those sleeping rough – at serious risk."
Dr Paterson said the proposal distracts from addressing the root causes of violence and disadvantage. "It's a worrying sign of the Territory Government's continued militarisation of public spaces and its ongoing failure to invest in the real solutions," he said. 'While community safety matters, equipping more people with weapons is not the answer." The reform will see 34 current Public Housing Saftey Officers and 22 Transit Saftey Officers, trained and re-deployed by 2026. 'What's next — arming school crossing attendants?' Brendan Ritchie, a member of Justice Not Jails – a grassroots community group based in Garramilla Darwin – says the latest changes under the CLP's 'tough on crime' agenda will disproportionately impact First Nations people. 'The NT has a tragic history of over-policing and violence against First Nations people," he said. "Giving more weapons to less-experienced 'officers' only compounds this injustice. "What's next – arming school crossing attendants?'
The union that represents police also appears to have reservations about the plan, with NT Police Association president Nathan Finn telling the NT News that they needed to see more details. It follows the recent death in custody of a 24-year-old Warlpiri man, who was living with a mental disability, in Alice Springs last month. Ally Sara, also a member of Justice Not Jails, says giving more people guns will increase the risk of violence. "Putting under-trained and over-armed transit officers onto crowded buses with lethal weapons is a shockingly shortsighted recipe for disaster," she said. "Given the recent tragedy in Alice Springs, I have very little confidence in the NT Police's ability to train their staff to exercise reasonable force."
Last week the NT CLP Government announced a 12-month trial to allow members of the public to buy and use pepper spray (also known as oleoresin capsicum spray or OC spray). The trial, set to begin on 1 September, makes the NT the second jurisdiction in Australia to legalise the sale and use of pepper spray, joining Western Australia. 'This is now the second step in a matter of weeks to arm underqualified individuals with weapons, first OC spray for the public and now firearms for public safety officers," Dr Paterson said. What does the NT Government say? When announcing the new changes, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who is also the minister for police, said the new Police Public Safety Officer model is about boosting frontline presence and delivering real community outcomes. 'We're cutting duplication, boosting visibility, empowering our PPSO's to tackle antisocial behaviour head-on,' Ms Finocchiaro said. 'Police are doing an outstanding job, especially dealing with domestic and family violence, which now makes up around 60 per cent of their work. "This model gives them the backup they need while delivering stronger community safety outcomes.' The first intake of PPSOs is expected to commence training in December 2025, with officers operational in early 2026. Comment has been sought from the NT Police Association.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
32 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Funeral for slain 17yo Pheobe Bishop will be held in Bundaberg on June 30
A funeral service for Bundaberg teenager Pheobe Bishop will be held 16 days after her remains were found in bushland following her disappearance. The 17-year-old was last seen on May 15, on her way to Bundaberg Airport to board a flight to visit her boyfriend in Western Australia. She was reported missing the following day. A major investigation began after it was discovered Pheobe failed to board her flight and she was not captured on CCTV inside the airport. The trip was a long-awaited reunion with her boyfriend Levi, who had moved across the country following a family tragedy. Police allege she was murdered by her flatmates James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, on the day she was last seen. The pair were arrested on June 5 following a failed search to find the missing teen. They were charged with murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse. Pheobe's body was discovered near Good Night Scrub National Park the following day. A funeral for the teen will be held with her family and friends in Bundaberg before a private cremation at the Springfields Crematorium at Elliott Heads at 2pm on Monday June 30. Messages have flooded the funeral notice offering their condolences to her family. 'It is so very sad you were taken from life as you were. You will remain forever young in the hearts of all who knew and loved you. May your soul rest peacefully,'one message read. 'My heartfelt condolences to Pheobe's family and friends, a young life cut short senselessly,' another said. 'Sincere condolences. Such a tragic end to a young life. May Pheobe rest peacefully,' a person said. 'BISHOP, Pheobe Jade 'Nanny McPhee'. Aged 17 years. Late of Gin Gin and formerly of Windsor, NSW. Beloved daughter of Kylie and Ray, Kevin and Stacey. Dearly loved sister of Jamie, Jesse, Kaylea, Ruby-Leigh, Aybel and sister-in-law to Janay. Loving aunty to Tallullah. Much loved niece, cousin and friend to many,' the funeral notice reads. Her family have asked for donations to be made to Pheobe's Go Fund Me page in lieu of flowers, which has already raised $7600. Tracey Berends organised the tribute on behalf of Ms Bishop's family saying their world was shattered when the bright, kind-hearted and deeply loved young woman was taken from them far too soon. 'Pheobe had a gentle soul and a generous spirit – always caring for others and standing up for what was right,' she told a vigil earlier this month. 'We want her legacy to live on and by paying it forward to the amazing volunteers and community.' Her mother Kylie Johnson said at the vigil she never expected a situation like that would happen to her. 'Now, unfortunately, we know that she is not going to come home to us,' she said. 'I have no words that could ever, ever describe what the last three-and-a-half weeks … it's just weighed us down.'
News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Evil': Man sentenced to life after Perth bondage sex murder
A dad-of two who arranged to a meet a teenager for a bondage sex hook-up was hacked to death with an axe by the depraved 19-year-old, with the slaying described as 'an example of evil'. Former Australian beach handball coach and West Coast Eagles masseuse Patrik Weiss was killed in his Lockridge home on June 12, 2023. The 45-year-old father had agreed to meet Alexander Mark Sutton, then 19, and was waiting blindfolded with his hands and feet bound with rope and handcuffs. He left a key to the front door in a meter box outside, having chatted online with his would-be killer for six months on a fetish website. Western Australia's Supreme Court heard, however, that Sutton had created a fake online dating profile with the intention of finding someone to kill. Upon arrival he fatally struck the vulnerable Mr Weiss in the head with a pickaxe, fracturing his skull. The court heard Sutton had also fantasised about eating part of his victim. Sutton, now 21, was sentenced life in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years on Thursday after pleading guilty to murder. Prosecutor Paul Usher read out excerpts of the diary Sutton kept before the murder to the court, revealing references to cannibalism. 'If you are reading this, either I have been caught or I have been killed,' it read. 'My mission is to kill those who are parasitic scum. 'Maybe I will eat a part of him as well to see if I like it. 'I need to get rid of my anger ASAP.' Sutton also wrote about 'hearing voices' and mused about killing his father and sister 'with the same method'. Katherine Dowling, Sutton's own lawyer, told the court he had carried out 'one of the most depraved and monstrous murders that this state has ever seen'. 'His behaviours were horrifying and profoundly perverse,' she said. 'This must be as close to an example of evil as one could imagine.' Mr Weiss was born in Germany and moved to Australia in 2003, later becoming the coach of the men's national beach handball team in 2013. He also worked as a sports physiotherapist, acting as a soft tissue therapist for AFL powerhouse West Coast. The court heard his former wife found him dead after he failed to pick up his children from school on the day he died. She told the court in a victim impact statement about how Sutton had 'destroyed' the lives of her children. 'This was not just a crime against one person it was a crime that fractured an entire family.' She also read out a statement from their two kids, with one saying her father 'didn't deserve to die like that'. In imposing a life sentence, Justice Joseph McGrath said the offending was 'extraordinarily callous' and that he did not believe Sutton was truly remorseful.
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
‘Had to wait': TikToker's horror ING ordeal
Don't miss out on the headlines from Banking. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Melbourne woman was left without money for two days after ING suspended her account for what they deemed to be 'suspicious activity'. In an ordeal that has left her switching banks, Katie McMaster posted to TikTok after being left without access to her card and unable to withdraw money due to a flag on her account. She said she was initially sent an email on Tuesday, telling her that her accounts had been suspended and she needed to verify her identity. Ms McMaster called ING to verify the email was legit, where she was told she would need to wait up to two days for the fraud team to get back to her. 'They said I need to wait for the fraud team to contact me. I can't speak to them, they wouldn't transfer me to them, I had to wait for them to email me,' she said in the video. After two days – and calling ING multiple times – Ms McMaster finally had her accounts unsuspended. She said the fraud team told her there was just 'one person' managing the fraud inbox. Speaking to Ms McMaster said the 'suspicious activity' turned out to be a transfer with her friend for payment of a Usher ticket. 'I don't know if my TikTok helped, but suddenly, they moved pretty quickly,' she said. Ms McMaster said the verification process as a whole did not feel secure. 'They're sending you emails but then when you ring them and you're on hold, they say ING will never ask you to provide verification via email,' she said. She also said she did not have the option to go into a branch, as there are none in Melbourne. 'It was frustrating just waiting, I probably wouldn't have minded so much if they kept me in the loop,' she said. Ms McMaster said she will be diversifying her banking in the future. Picture: TikTok The suspension on her account was removed two days later. Picture: TikTok Ms McMaster said she is now moving banks after being with ING for more than a decade due to the ordeal, with many users on TikTok commenting about similar experiences. A spokeswoman for ING said the bank does place temporary 'holds' on an account if the bank detects 'suspicious transactions'. 'This often involves temporarily placing a hold on a customer's account until we can confirm the transactions with the customer,' she said. 'We recognise that temporarily pausing activity on an account can impact customers, so we always check they have access to essential funds, ensuring they are not placed in financial hardship.' Originally published as 'Had to wait': TikToker's horror ING ordeal
