Acting Chief Minister Gerard Maley told Katie Woolf the government will continue to strengthen the laws after a Danish tourist was allegedly knocked unconscious and then stomped on by a 22-year-old man in Alice Springs.

Asked about reports a woman had her four-year prison sentence suspended after pleading guilty to causing serious harm to a 16-year-old girl due to “inhumane” conditions at the Alice Springs watch house, Mr Maley said offenders need to be in jail to face consequences and be rehabilitated, which doesn’t happen in watch houses.

Mr Maley also acknowledges that conditions in NT prisons are not ideal but says education and skills programs are being delivered to get people ready for work upon release.

The Acting Chief also confirmed one of the teenagers accused of attacking 71-year-old Trevor Miller was granted bail despite being found “too high risk” in a bail assessment by Corrections.

Follow the podcast on