Elected on a platform of lowering crime, the Country Liberal Party's first budget includes a record spend on corrections to help our stretched prison system. But the Opposition have used its budget reply to question how much of the nearly half a billion dollars will go towards rehabilitation, as a controversial topic was resurrected yet again
00:00Herald as a record spend for corrections in this year's budget, today questions over how effectively the money will be spent.
00:12Of the $495 million committed to corrections this year, how much is actually going towards rehabilitating prisoners?
00:20Overall, that's 0.8% of the prison's budget. Less than 1% aimed at getting offenders back onto a good track, a better path and changing their lives.
00:34The government, quick to defend its record on rehab.
00:39671 prisoners completed these programs in 2025, compared to 553 in 2024.
00:45So, Madam Speaker, what we're doing, what that shows you is that we are actually, increase the education in prison to break the cycle.
00:54But a relative of a Darwin prisoner, who's been jailed since last year, says accessing education programs is virtually impossible.
01:03It's not happening. There are names on pieces of paper to say that people really want to undergo these classes and better themselves, and it's not happening. There's nothing going on.
01:14Voluntary assisted dying also on the agenda. The Attorney General calling for an inquiry into an existing report.
01:23There's nothing wrong with more consultation. I know that many people who have talked to me about this, it's a complex issue. There are people with broad concerns.
01:30Budget debate and parliamentary proceedings aside, the NT's anti-corruption commissioner has resigned, following a year-long investigation into allegations of misconduct. The acting ICAT commissioner will remain in the role.
