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West Australian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
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. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
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. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
ABC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Is privatisation causing problems in the NT justice system?
NT Corrections Minister Gerard Maley speaks about the roles being filled by private contractors, which do not include jobs inside the prison itself.
The Guardian
10-02-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Two women locked in cell with up to 20 people in ‘disgusting' NT watch house
Two Aboriginal women say they have been locked in a hot, poorly ventilated cell with up to 20 people and a single tap above a toilet for drinking water in 'disgusting' conditions within the Alice Springs watch house. Police watch houses across the Northern Territory have been repurposed as long-term prison cells as record imprisonment numbers push the system to breaking point. The women's affidavits, submitted to the Alice Springs local court last month, describe their cells as 'hot, stressful and smelly' with no fresh air and inadequate space for each person to have a mattress. They said they showered every second day, sometimes walking past the men's cells to do so. 'The cell really stinks and is disgusting. You can not get away from the smell,' said Deanna, 30. 'I have not been given bottled water and have to drink the water from above the toilet. The water is warm or hot … There are arguments every day between the women.' The 'inhumane' conditions inside the watch house are a violation of human rights, alleged Dr John Paterson, the convener of Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (Apo nt), an alliance of bodies representing Aboriginal people. 'No one deserves to be deprived of basic healthcare or denied access to clean drinking water,' he said. 'It is unacceptable, discriminatory and harmful, and has no place in the Territory or in Australia. 'Regardless of your political views on justice, we must all draw the line at allowing this degradation of humanity, of health and of culture, to exist within our community.' Simone, 35, said she had been held in the watch house for more than eight weeks, except for six days spent in hospital because she had back pain and 'doctors were worried about my kidneys'. After returning to the watch house, she said her lawyer later found some medication with her property that she had not been receiving. She said doctors also told her to use her puffer. 'When using my puffer I am meant to rinse my mouth after every use,' she said. 'I am sometimes not able to do this, as the only source of water provided is a bubbler on top of the toilet and these are shared by up to 20 people between the three cell areas shared by all the women. 'This is disgusting and the sink is often filled with sick and other peoples [sic] saliva. The toilets are blocked and stink.' Apo nt has called for an urgent meeting with the NT government. The NT Corrections minister, Gerard Maley, has been contacted for comment. Last month there were 2,613 people locked up in the NT – more than 1% of the territory's population of 255,100, according to the Department of Corrections. The NT Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, has previously said the figures showed her government's tough on crime approach was working, but has conceded the rising prisoner numbers were pushing the correctional system to 'breaking point'. Work is under way to add up to 1,000 beds to the NT prison system by 2028.
