Minimum Non-Parole Periods for Murder of a Partner or Intimate Partner
Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill 2026
Introduced by: The Hon Marie-Clare Boothby MLA (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill 2026, Serial 51, and table the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be now read a first time. In the Northern Territory domestic violence murders are seven times the national average according to ABS data. According to the Coroner, 87 women have been killed by their partners in the Northern Territory since 2000.”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Madam Speaker, the Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill amends mandatory minimum sentencing for family violence-related murders in the Northern Territory. Violence towards women and children is one of the most serious and complex issues that Territorians face. It has long-reaching and devastating impacts on the health and wellbeing of children, young people, boys, girls, women and men.”
Robyn Cahill CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill. Domestic violence is a plague on the landscape of the Northern Territory, destroying lives and creating generations of children who believe that violence in a relationship is normal. Domestic, family and sexual violence remains one of the most serious challenges faced by the Northern Territory.”
“Madam Speaker, when we talk about victims of family violence in the Northern Territory, we are often talking about Aboriginal women. The complex problems in Aboriginal communities since colonisation have increased across all areas and, sadly, family violence is a problem that we have seen growing, not just in town centres but in bush communities.”
Clinton Howe CLP
“Madam Speaker, I seek to address why our government is doing this. Our government is saying something simple: the law must reflect the moral gravity of the crime. DV murder is not only the taking of a life but also the betrayal of the most fundamental human trust.”
Matthew Kerle CLP
“Madam Speaker, what a lot to get through. I will address some of the points from the Member for Johnston. She asked if this Bill will keep women safe, and she said no. This Bill is in line with our government’s agenda of applying consequences to offenders that are in line with community expectations and keeping the victims and the good citizens of this Territory safe.”
Laurie Zio CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill 2026. This Bill is about one thing: protecting Territorians from violence and ensuring that those who commit the most serious crimes face penalties that reflect the gravity of their actions.”
Oly Carlson CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill 2026. At its core this Bill is about protecting the most fundamental right that exists in any society, which is the right to live.”
Khoda Patel CLP
“Madam Speaker, I support the Sentencing Amendment (Murder) Bill 2026. This is an important Bill. It is a serious Bill, and it is necessary for the Northern Territory. At its heart, this Bill says something simple: if a person murders their current or former intimate partner, the law in the Northern Territory must treat that crime with the seriousness it deserves.”
Andrew Mackay CLP
“Madam Speaker, this morning we heard from the failed Labor Attorney-General, the Member for Gwoja, about how the government needs to be doing more about domestic violence and how he has all these fantastic and wonderful ideas. He had eight years to implement them, and what did his ideas get us? It got us an 81% increase in domestic violence.”