Health and legal services welcome Northern Territory Government commitment to improving services

15 April 2019

Joint media release by the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, and the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission

The Northern Territory Royal Commission exposed a broken youth justice system, which left children more damaged than when they entered it. Recently, it was also revealed that 100% of children behind bars are Indigenous.

The Royal Commission provided a road map for change and the Northern Territory Government accepted, in principle, all 226 of its recommendations and promised to “overhaul” youth justice in the NT. There is a long way to go, but today the Northern Territory Government announced a number of important initiatives to improve the opportunities available to children to turn their lives around. We welcome this announcement, and will monitor the implementation of these important commitments to ensure they are delivered.

‘Children belong in their communities, with their families and in classrooms. Today’s announcement is an important step towards increasing the positive opportunities for children caught up in the youth justice system’ said Suzan Cox QC, Director of the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission (NTLAC).

Read the full media release here.