Chief Minister
Media Release
CLP's new 'posting and boasting' laws carry up to two years jail
5 October 2024
The newly elected CLP Government is delivering on its promise to keep Territorians safe with "posting and boasting" laws set to be passed.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said, as promised, her government would bring an enormous legislative agenda to the first sittings of Parliament, which start on 15 October.
The new "posting and boasting" offence will see a penalty of up to two years' jail.
This will apply to any person who promotes a certain crime or criminal activity, such as violent offences, property damage, theft, stealing a motor vehicle, police pursuits and robbery, on social media platforms, including sharing criminal activity online, for the purpose of notoriety.
"Community safety is my government's No.1 priority, and Territorians are right to expect that we will deliver on these new law and order measures as promised," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"If you commit a certain crime and try to be a hero about it by posting the crime on social media, you're glorifying the fact that you've done the wrong thing, which will not be tolerated.
"This is about ensuring our laws act as a deterrent to committing crimes, that there are consequences, and offenders are held accountable for their actions."
The new "posting and boasting" laws do not apply to people who post on social media to raise awareness of criminal activity, Territorians seeking information about a crime or to media reporting.
"This is purely about drawing a line in the sand about what is acceptable or not, and filming yourself or your mates committing a crime and gloating about it online is not okay," Mrs Finocchiaro said.
"Declan's Law and other measures, including criminalising bail breaches, electronic monitoring for people on bail, ram raid legislation, lowering the criminal age of responsibility from 12 to 10, and minimum mandatory sentences for assaulting frontline workers, will also be ready to be passed in the first sittings of Parliament.
"Territorians have given us a very clear job to do, and we are getting it done."
