NT youth justice legislation changes disproportionately affect Indigenous youths

Image:New legislative changes could see more Indigenous children in detention

The Northern Territory Government implemented new changes to the Territory’s youth justice legislation, which came into effect on Tuesday.

The changes mainly relate to new bail conditions and bail eligibility, reportedly as a way to prevent youths from  re-offending. However, critics say the new laws are punitive in nature, and could unfairly target at-risk Indigenous youth, who are already over-represented in the NT’s youth detention system, comprising over 90% of the territory’s youth detainees.

Produced By: Daniel Perotti

Featured In Story: Dr Nicholas Fancourt – Paediatrician & Research Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, and Maggie Munn – Indigenous Rights Associated Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia

First aired on The Wire, Friday, 14 May 2021