Northern Territory Youth Justice Tracker
What did the NT government promise, who got the money, who runs those organisations, what’s their track record, and what’s the political context?
The Story in Three Numbers
Northern Territory detains 62 children on an average day at $4,800/day. First Nations young people are 5x overrepresented in detention. 80% of those detained haven't been sentenced — they're on remand. Detention numbers have decreased 0% over 5 years.
The Numbers That Matter
Source: outcomes_metrics database — AIHW, ROGS, state reports.
ROGS 2026 — System Snapshot
Sentenced vs Remand
AIHW quarterly avg nightly detention, ages 10-17.
Safety in Custody — 10-Year Trend
ROGS 2026 rates per 10,000 custody nights.
Closing the Gap — Target 11
Off TrackIndigenous youth detention rate per 10K — reduce overrepresentation by 2030-31.
Policy Timeline
CLP government reversed Labor reform, lowering minimum age of criminal responsibility from 12 back to 10
NT Labor government raised minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, implementing key Royal Commission recommendation
Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory delivered final report with 227 recommendations
How NT Compares
Northern Territory vs other states — AIHW Youth Justice 2023-24 & ROGS 2026.
| Metric | QLD | NSW | VIC | WA | NT | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detention rate (per 10K) | 5.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 4.2 | 17 | 3.4 |
| Avg daily detention count | 317 | 200 | 120 | 145 | 62 | 950 |
| Indigenous overrepresentation | 26x | 22x | 14x | 24x | 5x | 17x |
| First Nations detention rate (per 10K) | 42 | 32 | 18 | 38 | 25 | 26.1 |
| Avg days in detention | 104 | 55 | 37 | 68 | 45 | 62 |
| Cost per day (detention) | $2,162 | $3,200 | $7,123 | $2,573 | $4,800 | $3,635 |
| % unsentenced (remand) | 86% | 72% | 65% | 78% | 80% | 75% |
| 5-year trend (detention) | +53% | +86% | +37% | -10% | 0% | +19% |
Closing the Gap: Target 11
Reduce rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17) in detention by 30% by 2031.
NT First Nations Detention Rate Trend
Oversight & Accountability
What oversight bodies have found — and whether anyone listened.
1. Who Gets the Money
Top funded organisations across all NT youth justice programs.
| Organisation | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Territory Families, Housing and Communities | 68 | $3.2B |
2. Evidence & Accountability
Australian Living Map of Alternatives (ALMA) evidence for NT youth justice programs.
Trace funding flows from budget to recipients, contracts, and lobbying connections