The Northern Territory government is pointing to new crime statistics showing a sharp fall in offences in Alice Springs/Mparntwe, arguing its “tough on crime” reforms are improving safety. But Aboriginal legal and human rights advocates say the same policy settings are driving an escalating incarceration rate that disproportionately impacts First Nations people.
According to reporting based on data released this week, total offences in Alice Springs fell 43 per cent between December 2024 and December 2025, with house break-ins down 79 per cent. The government has linked those figures to its justice agenda, including tightened bail laws and other measures introduced since 2025.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has defended the approach as necessary to protect victims, including Aboriginal people who experience high rates of violence and property crime. The government has also highlighted new custodial infrastructure, including a dedicated women’s prison in Alice Springs, as part of its response to increased detainee numbers.
However, critics argue the drop in reported crime cannot be separated from the impact of tougher bail settings and an expanding remand population. National Indigenous Times reporting noted nearly 90 per cent of detainees in the Territory are Aboriginal, with bail changes described as contributing to more people being held in custody before trial.
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has launched a High Court challenge against the Territory’s bail reforms, arguing they are unlawful and amount to punishment before trial. NAAJA says the laws undermine foundational legal principles and increase the likelihood that Aboriginal people are imprisoned without conviction.
The debate is also drawing federal attention. In media interviews this month, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said the Commonwealth is examining funding relationships with the Northern Territory, including the Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment agreement and said “we have levers that we can pull” to push closer alignment with Closing the Gap commitments.
Supporters of the NT’s approach say community safety must be prioritised, while advocates warn that rising incarceration entrenches harm, disrupts families, and risks worsening long-term outcomes. With the Territory already the worst-performing jurisdiction on several Closing the Gap measures, the clash is shaping into a national test of how governments balance crime policy, justice principles, and First Nations-led solutions.
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