BY GARY MEYEHOFF

DARWIN — The Top End Users' Forum has voiced concerns at the Northern Territory government's efforts to pass new laws expanding police powers, calling them “vote-grabbing”.

The Country Liberal Party has introduced draft legislation which will allow staff at juvenile detention centres to use handcuffs and other restraints on young people, allow police to listen in on phone calls and search without a warrant under the proposed Weapons Control Act, allow the crown prosecutor the right to appeal the dismissal of a case by a magistrate and allow the Director of Correctional Services to transfer prisoners between prisons without regard for the needs of the prisoner's family.

Of added concern is the proposed Sentencing Amendment Bill. Under the act, a member of the police force could apply for an area to be declared a “notified area”, in which police will have powers to enter and move people on and even seize property. Orders could apply to shops, licensed premises, parks and even private homes.

The Top End Users Forum has launched a campaign to demand that chief minister Denis Burke withdraw the legislation and utilise Territory and Federal funds to address the real issues — unemployment, youth boredom and minuscule Centrelink payments.

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