Central Australia Justice Reinvestment initiative announced
Attorney-General
The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Minister for Indigenous Australians
Senator for the Northern Territory
Senator The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy
Joint media release
The Albanese Labor Government has announced the latest initiative as part of the largest commitment to justice reinvestment ever delivered by the Commonwealth.
Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service (CAYLUS) will deliver Mampu-Maninjaku, a community-led crime prevention, alcohol and drug counselling, and diversion program.
This is the second initiative funded under the Justice Reinvestment in Central Australia Program and was selected following a rigorous assessment process undertaken by an independent panel.
The Mampu-Maninjaku initiative aims to reduce the over-representation of First Nations people in the criminal justice system. It will also target alcohol and drug use issues through a partnership consortium with the Australian Childhood Foundation and the Southern Tanami Kurdiji Indigenous Corporation.
Justice reinvestment is a long-term, community-led approach to preventing crime, improving community safety and reducing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children in custody.
The Albanese Government’s commitment includes $69 million over 4 years (from 2022–23) to support up to 30 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives under the National Justice Reinvestment Program with ongoing funding of $20 million per year from 2026–27.
In the 2023–24 Budget, the Albanese Government committed an additional $10 million over 4 years to support place-based justice reinvestment partnerships in Central Australia, under the $250 million plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia.
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, including the Priority Reforms and achievement of the justice targets (Targets 10 and 11), to reduce First Nations incarceration rates and contact with the criminal justice system.
For more information regarding the justice reinvestment programs, visit the GrantConnect website.
Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General, Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“The initiative demonstrates our government’s continued commitment to working in partnership with First Nations communities to develop local solutions to divert at risk adults and young people away from the criminal justice system.
“We know that reducing the incarceration of First Nations people and strengthening community safety can only be achieved through initiatives led by First Nations communities.
“These local solutions will deliver real and lasting change, and I am committed as Attorney-General to the continued success of the government’s justice reinvestment programs.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy:
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to working with First Nations communities to deliver community-led justice reinvestment initiatives.
“First Nations people have developed this initiative; it provides a local solution to address the drivers of contact with the criminal justice system.
“This initiative will have a positive impact for people in and around Mpartntwe Alice Springs through targeted support to the communities of Nyirripi, Willowra, Yuendumu and Outstations.”