Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the disparity between Labor’s focus on
offenders compared with victims of crime couldn’t be more stark after it was revealed just
five percent of restitution owed by convicted teenage criminals has been recouped since
2019.
“Opposition questions, submitted through a formal Parliamentary process last month, have
uncovered less than $615 has been clawed back for victims of crime from the more than
$11,200 in restitution owed by youth offenders, in the past two financial years.
“Since 2019, only 16 youth orders for restitution have been made. This isn’t good enough
and fails community expectations. The Gunner Labor Government should be ashamed of
itself. Instead, its Ministers are gleefully signing $35 million cheques for Don Dale detainees,
then desperately trying to hide the payout figure from the public,” said Mrs Finocchiaro.
Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says Territorians want a
commitment that youth criminals will pay back their debt to society – and these latest
figures completely defy that expectation.
“The CLP Opposition wants to see, as part of any settlement of the $35 million, that money
owed to victims of crime – regardless of whether they have a court order – is paid from that
fund. Only a quarter of the orders made against youth offenders since 2019 have been paid.
We also want to see debt recovery proceedings launched against the 12 youths who still
haven’t paid their restitution.
“This incompetent Gunner Government continues to drag its heels on implementing key
youth justice election promises. We are still waiting for the establishment of community
work programs – which would see teenage offenders cleaning graffiti – which were
promised by the Chief Minister and Police Minister more than a year ago.
“Labor’s promise of ‘clear and immediate consequences’ is laughable when Ministers are
happy to hand over $35 million for teenage criminals, but can’t be bothered chasing up
money owed to Territorians who have been victims of youth offenders,” said Mr Burgoyne.
ENDS