The relationship between the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal organisations and peak bodies is at an all-time low, with key members pulling out of a key Closing the Gap forum over a breakdown in "genuine dialogue, partnership and shared decision-making".
The announcement comes only a day after Territory Labor leader Selena Uibo slammed the Country Liberal Party (CLP) Government, arguing they "do not care about remote communities and they do not care about Aboriginal Territorians".
On Thursday, seven non-government members of the Northern Territory Justice Policy Partnership (NTJPP) — including representatives of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) and justice experts — informed the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, as well as the NT Government's Co-Chair of the NTJPP, that they would suspend participation for six months.
Decision not taken lightly
In a statement, the non-government members said the decision to suspend the forum was not made lightly, but came after "repeated attempts...to realign the NTJPP with the partnership elements of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap" as well as the forum's 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," they said.
"The non-government members' concern is straightforward: 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."
They argued two letters sent to the government — in October 2024 and May 2025 — outlining their concerns went "largely unanswered", with the one response described as "inadequate and dismissive".
Matthew Connop, a Co-Chair of the NTJPP, said members did not want to walk away from the table, having "spent years bringing our knowledge, our experience and practical solutions because we want less crime and safer communities".
"But we cannot keep sitting at the table if our advice is ignored and our presence is then used to suggest we agree with decisions we don't support," he said. "That isn't partnership."
Fellow independent member of the NTJPP, Nick Espie, said: "It is deeply frustrating to see Aboriginal experience 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," he said. "There has been no true partnership, consultation or collaboration."
The CLP Government has continued to draw the ire of Aboriginal organisations and Land Councils across the Territory since its election two years ago. Justice policies, including lowering the age of criminal responsibility and strict bail laws, have seen an increase in incarceration numbers.
More than one per cent of the population is currently incarcerated, the overwhelming majority of whom are Aboriginal, with almost half being held on remand.
Cindy Torrens from the North Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Service said people in the NT are being told the government's policies are making them safer. If so, she says, they "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," Ms Torrens said.
"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."
Critics argue many of the CLP's reforms are inconsistent with the Northern Territory Government's commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The NT is the worst-performing jurisdiction on the agreement, and there have been calls for the Commonwealth to place financial penalties on the Territory when policies seemingly contravene the agreement.
In July, the passing of controversial child protection reforms — despite the protestations of Aboriginal organisations, human rights bodies, child protection experts and legal groups — led to the resignation of two senior Indigenous leaders from key positions: Rob McPhee as the independent Aboriginal chair of the Tripartite Forum, and Shahleena Musk as the Territory's Child Commissioner.
In his resignation statement, Mr McPhee said it's "become increasingly evident" the CLP Government "is not committed to genuine partnership with the Forum on significant policy and legislative reform".
The non-government members of the NTJPP say the same patterns are emerging in the forum, arguing it raises "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," they said in a statement. "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."
The NT Attorney-General has been contacted for comment.
The CLP Government has been bullish in its response to criticism from various groups of its legislation, arguing it has a mandate to combat crime after its landslide victory in 2024.
In July, Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill criticised both Mr McPhee and Ms Musk immediately after their resignations, while the Chief Minister has previously said experts are wasting their time writing to her to criticise policies.
On Wednesday, Ms Uibo cited the government's failure to agree on financial terms with the Commonwealth for an Indigenous-run homeless shelter in Darwin as an example of them having "no interest in supporting people who do not fit the model of who their priorities are".
"I'm saying the government doesn't care about Aboriginal Territorians," the NT Labor leader told ABC Radio. "A third of Territorians are Aboriginal...and we're seeing the CLP completely dismiss any type of working relationship, consultation or partnerships."
