Recent reports indicate adults and children as young as 10 in the NT could be left with without legal representation when charged with a crime, unless they are already in custody.
This comes as Legal Aid NT has been forced to cut services to address end of year funding shortfalls, according to the ABC, a situation advocates have termed a “betrayal of their communities”.
It’s the most recent crisis for the federal and state-funded legal service, which has been struggling to meet demand, with many pointing to impacts of tougher CLP justices polices.
Statement attributable to Attorney-General,Marie-Clare Boothby
The Wire also reach out to Legal Aid NT for further comment.
Image: Pexels – Pavel Danilyuk
Produced By: Emma Wotzke
Featured In Story: Tabith Lean – Organising Member with the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls , and
First aired on The Wire, Thursday 20 November 2025

