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Snapshot 1:Thu, Oct 17, 2024 8:44:27 PM GMT last edited by Brian

Australia: Northern Territory Returns Jailing Age to 10

Above: Then-opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, now Chief Minister, and then-Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler (not pictured) meet for a Sky News debate on August 20, 2024, ahead of the NT general election held on August 24 in Darwin, Australia. Image copyright: Pema Tamang Pakhrin/Pool via Getty Images

The Facts

  • The new Country Liberal Party government of Australia's Northern Territory (NT), which was elected in August, has brought the minimum age that someone can be jailed back down to 10.

  • The move comes after the previous Liberal government, which lost to the Country Liberal Party in the August election, had raised the age from 10 to 12.


The Spin

As young indigenous children around Australia continue to face inhumane jailing policies, politicians still seem determined to go against the evidence and keep the in place. Indigenous communities have proven that their separate justice programs work well, but they can't implement them if the goverment keeps putting their children in jail.

The Northern Territory voted overwhelmingly for the Country Liberal Party because they were tired of crime taking over their communities. Not only did voters want the jailing age brought back to 10, but also for police to be given the necessary resources and moral support to do their jobs. Chief Minister Finocchiaro is governing for the people and no one else.


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