First Nations lawyers warn guns on NT buses will make people feel ‘less safe’

The Northern Territory government’s plan to deploy armed Police Public Safety Officers on public transport from June is facing renewed criticism from First Nations legal and political leaders, who say bringing firearms onto crowded buses risks escalating harm for Aboriginal people and the wider community.

The new cohort of Police Public Safety Officers (known as PPSOs) is set to begin patrolling in Darwin and other Territory centres after completing an 18-week training program, under laws passed last year to create the role. The government says the officers will help tackle antisocial behaviour and public drinking, and will provide a more consistent response on public transport and in public housing settings.

But the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has argued the move is unnecessary and could worsen fears among Aboriginal Territorians, who are already over-represented in the criminal justice system. “Many people have told NAAJA that the presence of guns on buses will make them feel less safe, rather than more safe” chief executive Ben Grimes said.

Concerns have also been raised by Aboriginal members of the NT Parliament. Independent MLA Yingiya Mark Guyula has previously warned Aboriginal people travelling into Darwin for health appointments or family reasons to be cautious, saying he feared Indigenous passengers would be targeted by the new armed officers. Opposition MPs have also questioned whether a policing response can address the drivers of violence on the network.

The policy is being introduced against a backdrop of long-running safety problems on Darwin’s buses. The Transport Workers Union has described antisocial behaviour on the Territory’s public transport network as among the worst nationally, while commuters have described avoiding buses after dark because of fights and public drunkenness.

The CLP government has already introduced a series of changes aimed at reducing violence, including making bus travel free, increasing security and closing major interchanges. NT officials have pointed to a fall in incidents requiring a response from transit safety officers after the closure of the Casuarina bus interchange, though union representatives say problems on buses remain.

Police and government spokespeople have defended the introduction of PPSOs, saying a visible, readily engaged police capability will increase community confidence and allow a targeted prevention and response to antisocial behaviour while minimising harm linked to alcohol misuse. The Territory government has said the first squad of 24 recruits began training in February, including existing public housing and transit safety staff.

NAAJA and other critics say alternatives such as culturally safe engagement, Aboriginal night patrols and youth outreach would address underlying causes more effectively, and have called for meaningful consultation with Aboriginal communities before firearms are introduced into routine public transport settings.