The fallout from Linford Feick's death has shaken the Northern Territory government which is insisting it's 'tough on crime' approach still works. But today they've announced a further tightening of bail reforms meaning Judges will need to treat community safety as the top priority when considering bail.
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00:00Doubling down on its tough-on-crime approach.
00:06The Territory Government proposing further bail reform,
00:09meaning judges must consider community safety above all other bail factors.
00:15They have to ask themselves,
00:17am I satisfied that this person is not going to be at risk to the community if I bail them?
00:21And I think when we put that proposition to the judiciary,
00:24it's going to reframe how bail is delivered in the Territory,
00:28which is exactly the outcome we're looking for.
00:31The new law to be modelled on those in place in Victoria and New South Wales,
00:35which have led to a 32% increase in youths in custody.
00:40The CLP say extra beds will be prepared in already overflowing prisons.
00:45We're going to make as many as necessary.
00:48If it's another 1,000, another 2,000, another 5,000, it doesn't matter.
00:52We're going to make sure the community is safe.
00:54The death in Nightcliff, even making waves federally.
00:57To see somebody going to work, to a place of work where they should feel safe,
01:01and they end up being stabbed to death,
01:03that is something that is condemned by every right-thinking Australian.
01:07So, absolutely, I want to make sure that we can keep communities safe,
01:10including in the Northern Territory.
01:12The latest incident evoking a tragic sense of déjà vu,
01:16as Territorians recall the 2023 stabbing murder of bottle shop worker Declan Laverty,
01:22which led to the CLP's tough-on-crime laws.
01:25Laws that have failed to prevent another death.
01:28The legislation and law changes that are consistently happening under the current government
01:33has been targeted towards primarily Aboriginal people,
01:37and we need proper investment in remote communities around housing, education, pathways, leadership.
01:44But the government urging people to stick with them.
01:48Fight with us. Stand with us and fight.
01:51Fight for the territory we know and love.
01:54Fight for the territory it deserves to be going forward.
01:57Parliament will reconvene next Wednesday to debate and pass the law,
02:01addressing an urgent issue with an urgent response.
02:05Act 3
02:12To do this.
02:26The coming years past.
02:28The coming years past.
02:30The coming years past.