Non-government members of the Northern Territory Justice Policy Partnership (NTJPP) have today notified the NT Government of its decision to suspend further participation for a period of six months, citing a breakdown in genuine dialogue, partnership and shared decision-making.  

In a formal letter notifying their position, seven non-government members of the NTJPP comprising of independent justice experts and representatives of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) called on the NT Government to renew its commitment to shared decision-making, accountability and respect for Aboriginal voices. This coincides with the resignation of two non-government members. 

This should concern every Territorian. These experts were appointed to work with government on measures to reduce Aboriginal imprisonment and improve justice outcomes. Diversity of views, robust debate and scrutiny produce better results for the Territory. Allowing the Partnership to continue as is only creates a façade of scrutiny, dialogue and collaboration, when in reality none exists.

The decision has not been made lightly and follows repeated attempts by non-government members to realign the NTJPP with the partnership elements of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the Agreement) and the NTJPP Terms of Reference. However, the conduct of the partnership has reached a point where continuing participation would risk endorsing a process that is not operating in accordance with those principles. 

The non-government members’ concern is straight-forward: NT Government policies are moving ahead without the input and agreement of justice experts appointed to help design solutions. Continuing to participate risks creating the impression that experts endorse government decisions that were made without their meaningful engagement or support. 

The NTJPP was established in 2023 under Priority Reform 1 of the Agreement, which establishes the foundation for genuine, empowered engagement between Aboriginal peoples and all levels of government, ensuring Aboriginal voices are central to policy, programs and resource allocations. The NTJPP is meant to bring government, ACCOs and independent justice experts together to develop practical, evidence-based solutions to address the over-representation of Aboriginal adults and young people in the justice system under Closing the Gap Targets (CtG Targets) 10 and 11. 

In a le􀀂er sent today to the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice and the NT Government’s Co-Chair of the NTJPP, non-government members reiterated clear and practical changes needed to ensure the partnership can function properly, which have been repeatedly ignored by NTG. 

Non-government members also point to two letters raising serious concerns, sent in October 2024 and May 2025, which have gone largely unanswered, and the one response received was inadequate and dismissive. 

They also say their detailed input into developing an NTJPP specific action plan intended to inform the NT’s draft Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 3, has repeatedly been set aside, with actions “selectively extracted for convenience” rather than genuinely negotiated amongst NTJPP partners.

NTJPP non-government members say the breakdown in the NT Government’s relationship with its expert partners is not an isolated event. In July 2026, the independent Aboriginal Chair of the NT Children and Families Tripartite Forum also resigned, describing a “growing departure” from the NT Government’s shared decision-making commitments. NTJPP non-government members say they are witnessing the same pa􀀂ern emerge in the NTJPP, raising serious questions about whether the NT Government has the ability to work in partnership with experts and organisations who say things the government may not want to hear.

The suspension is for six months and is not a withdrawal from the work. Non-government members remain willing to meet and have invited the NT Government to use the period to restore genuine partnership and focus on what works to reduce crime.

Quote attributable to Matthew Connop, Co-Chair, Northern Territory Justice Policy Partnership:

“We don’t want to walk away from the table. We have spent years bringing our knowledge, our experience and practical solutions because we want less crime and safer communities.

“But we cannot keep si􀀅ng at the table if our advice is ignored and our presence is then used to suggest we agree with decisions we don’t support. That isn’t partnership.”

Quote attributable to Cindy Torrens, North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service:

“Territorians are being told these policies are making them safer. If that is true, the NT Government should be able to clearly show us with reliable evidence. Right now, there are serious questions about whether the crime data can even be compared properly over time. 

“People deserve more than slogans and empty promises. They deserve to know that the government they elected to keep our communities safe is delivering policies that are backed by transparent evidence showing they actually reduce crime and make Territorians safer.”

Quote attributable to Nick Espie, Independent member, Northern Territory Justice Policy Partnership:

“We know our communities and what successful Aboriginal led justice solutions looks like. We brought to the NTJPP decades of knowledge and experience of what works to effectively steer people away from the criminal justice system. 

“It is deeply frustrating to see Aboriginal expertise pushed aside and ignored and instead pouring millions of dollars into the ineffective approach of over-incarcerating Aboriginal people and ignoring evidence-based approaches to addressing community safety. We wanted the NT Government to work with us, that is what they are supposed to be committed to under the Closing the Gap Partnership Agreement. There has been no true partnership, consultation or collaboration.”

Until then, non-government NTJPP members say every Territorian is entitled to ask two simple questions: what is the NT Government’s ‘tough on crime’ approach costing us, and where is the reliable evidence that it is making Territory communities safer?”

***ENDS***