Police feature in complaints to territory ombudsman
More than 40 per cent of complaints to a crime-troubled territory's ombudsman have been made against police and the prison system.
Some prisoners can't even lay complaints due to prison lockdowns or being held in watchhouses, Northern Territory Acting Ombudsman Candice Maclean has told a parliamentary estimates hearing.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro defended the reintroduction of spit hoods for youths in custody at the hearing on Tuesday, saying her government was delivering on an election process to crackdown on crime and protect officers.
Ms Maclean said that in 2023-24 there were 2010 approaches to the ombudsman's office, including 369 complaints against police and 453 against correctional services.
As of March 31, 2025, there had been 1820 approaches, including 498 police complaints, 327 against correctional services, 521 against government departments and 39 involving local councils.
"Towards the end of this financial year we expect over 600 police complaints which we consider may be due to increased police presences and operational activity," the Ombudsman said.
The ombudsman's office worked closely with the NT Police professional standards command to ensure fairness of process to both complainants and accused officers, she said.
Around 430 correctional services complaints were predicted towards the end of the financial year, a slightly reduced total than expected.
"We consider this decrease may be due to a number of factors including inability of prisoners to access our office potentially due to lockdowns and being accommodated in watchhouses," the ombudsman told the hearing.
Ms Maclean said her office was engaging with NT Corrections on how things could be improved.
Opposition Leader Selina Uibo asked if the government accepted the previous ombudsman's findings on the risks and lack of evidence supporting the reintroduction of spit hoods for children.
The previous Labor government banned their use but the Country Liberal Party government allowed police and correctional officers to use them again after winning power last year.
The previous NT ombudsman, Peter Shoyer, had recommended the devices not be used in any settings.
In response to Ms Uibo's question Ms Finocchiaro made no apologies for their reintroduction, saying it was an election commitment so "the provision of that tool for police had been provided".
In 2023 the United Nations committee against torture recommended Australia "take all necessary measures to end the use of spit hoods in all circumstances, across all jurisdictions".
The Australian Federal Police and the NSW, Queensland and South Australian police forces all ban the use of the hoods.
Ms Finocchiaro said her government had made law and order the cornerstone of its first budget with a record $1.5 billion investment in corrections, courts and police.
The NT government has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 and introduced tougher bail laws.
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NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." The tax issues are part of what economic researchers at the e61 Institute call a "vertical fiscal imbalance" that characterises the nation. "The states carry many of the spending responsibilities but lack equivalent revenue-raising capacity," chief executive Michael Brennan says, warning state finances are drifting onto an unsustainable path. But NSW will at least bank a cash surplus in Tuesday's budget for the first time since 2021. "Which means we're no longer borrowing money to pay our day-to-day bills as a government," Mr Mookhey says. "That gives us a platform for further progress." Australian Public Policy Institute chief executive Libby Hackett expects the budget will be a step forward, building on previous years. "This will be a structural reform budget: supporting better service delivery, infrastructure alignment and long-term productivity, even in a tight fiscal environment," Professor Hackett tells AAP. "Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement." The man who writes the cheques for Australia's largest state budget can finally focus on the future. 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Framed in Mr Mookhey's parliament office is a newspaper headline relating to the underpayments scandal in the state's workers' compensation scheme he played a role in exposing in opposition. The page is yellowing with age as Mr Mookhey pushes to reform a scheme he is now in charge of, and which he argues is becoming unsustainable due to the rising cost and prevalence of psychological injuries. "It's been a hard case to argue," he says. "This system is failing everybody. It's a system that is fundamentally broken." Changes are simmering on the back burner after a parliamentary inquiry prevented action before the budget. Mr Mookhey hopes reform can create a "prevention culture" that limits psychological injuries from occurring. Outside of the workplace, he has promised some reassurance to people dealing with mental health issues and their loved ones. "They will see more investment in mental health resources in our health system and they will see more investment when it comes to our social interventions," he says. However, public psychiatrists at the pointy end of mental health crises should not expect the budget to deliver a pay rise at the level they have been calling for amid resignations in protest and arbitration in the state's Industrial Relations Commission. The federal distribution of GST to the states also continues to frustrate Mr Mookhey after dashing his hopes of a surplus in 2024. NSW now receives its lowest share of GST since it was introduced - about 85 cents for every dollar raised. "What frustrates me is not so much that we support the other states, it's just the missed opportunities," he says. The distribution needs to change but the tax's bigger proportional hit on the spending power of lower-income Australians means Mr Mookhey does not support raising the rate. "We can do better," he says. "What we need to focus on is just making sure the system is simple, the distribution is fair, the distribution is predictable, but also the distribution is understandable." Another federal issue with implications for state budgets is the rise of the black market for illicit tobacco fuelled by rising excise on dinky-di durries. The market shift is robbing the Commonwealth of expected revenue and creating criminal complications for states. It has already led to increased funding for enforcement within the health budget, but Premier Chris Minns indicated earlier in June a decision would have to be made about the resources devoted to combating illicit tobacco sales. While smoke clouds what the budget might do to address the issue, Mr Mookhey notes it is a source of public anxiety. "It's right and fair that we respond to community concerns about it ... we're going to have to work through what is the right solution." 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"Moreover, this budget presents a real opportunity to advance whole-of-government objectives in cross-cutting areas." Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sees it differently, warning the state is heading for "yet another low-vision, low-value, low-energy budget". "We have had not one visionary pre-budget announcement."
AU Financial Review
12 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Labor must seal the cracks in Australia's carbon credits market
After Labor's resounding election victory, it is now likely that Australia and Pacific countries will co-host next year's global climate summit, bringing renewed focus on the Albanese government's performance in this area. With Australia's emissions continuing to rise and growing concerns in the business community about ESG risks relating to the offsets market, Labor should bring forward the review of its signature emissions pricing policy to this year.
