National

Northern Territory budgets hundreds more prison beds

May 5, 2026

A bed is seen in a prison cell — The NT budget will set aside millions of dollars to add more prison beds to "meet future demand". -AAP Image

A crime-troubled territory will spend more than half a billion dollars on more prison beds.

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Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan will deliver the Country Liberal Party's second budget on Tuesday, with law and order a key focus again.

The CLP government won the 2024 NT election on a tough-on-crime platform, saying it would put victims of crime first, not offenders.

The party promised tougher bail laws, more support for police officers and hundreds more prison beds.

Legal and Indigenous advocacy groups have criticised the approach, saying locking people up won't address the root causes of crime.

Instead, they want more money for rehabilitation programs.

Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said community safety was the government's number one priority, and that meant ensuring the prison system had modern, fit-for-purpose infrastructure.

The corrections budget for 2026/27 will be $525 million, including $250 million for infrastructure.

Through the infrastructure plan, the department has delivered an extra 1092 prison beds since late 2024.

"The revised master plan represents a 40 per cent increase in scope from its original release, expanding total planned capacity to 1535 beds and ensuring the corrections system can meet future demand," Mr Maley said.

The next phase would focus on work camps and infrastructure upgrades that supported rehabilitation, skills and reintegration, Mr Maley said.

The revised plan includes $238 million to establish two prisoner work camps in Darwin and Katherine with 192 beds and 198 beds, respectively.

"Work in the community will be expanded, with work camps providing life skills training linked to real employment opportunities, turning prisoners into taxpayers," Mr Maley said.

The budget also commits $15 million to progress procurement for men's and women's correctional facilities.

In contrast to the big-ticket items, the budget provides $1.2 million for prison skills training and $4.9 million for diversion programs.

The treasurer described the budget as a common-sense and responsible document focused on the needs of Territorians, without wasteful spending.

As part of the budget, the NT government will extend two residential property incentives for another year.

A $50,000 grant for first home buyers and $30,000 grant for existing buyers will be available until September 30, 2027.

"Our new home grants are the most generous in Australia because we want more Territorians to put down roots as more land is released across the NT," Mr Yan said.