The Northern Territory has increased the mandatory minimum prison sentence for domestic violence murder from 20 to 25 years, after the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government’s amendment to the Sentencing Act passed parliament on Tuesday.
The change applies when a person murders their partner or former partner, with the 25‑year non‑parole period only avoidable in “exceptional circumstances.” It is one of three bills passed in the NT parliament this week.
The amendment, introduced in February, was reviewed by the Legislative Scrutiny Committee, which received 12 submissions 10 of which recommended changes.
The North Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) argued the increase would not deter intimate partner homicide, noting such crimes are rarely premeditated. Many submissions also raised concerns about the narrow and complex definition of “exceptional circumstances,” which is intended to protect victims of violence who may kill in self‑defence.
Under the law, exceptional circumstances apply only if an offender can prove:
the victim’s conduct substantially mitigated their actions, and
they are otherwise a person of good character and unlikely to reoffend.
Critics say the threshold is so high that it may fail to protect vulnerable victims, while supporters argue the tougher penalty reflects the seriousness of domestic violence murder.
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