The Northern Territory has announced it will permanently legalise oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, which will be made accessible to 16 and 17-year-olds following a successful 12-month trial using the weapon for self-defence.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the response to the trial had been “fantastic with a 99% success rate”, based on legal purchases of canisters of the weapon (ABC).
“Territorians have embraced OC spray for self-defence and made it clear they want to continue to have access and they want to see that access expanded to younger people,” said Finocchiaro (The Guardian).
“The reality is that we already give 16-year-olds a lot of responsibility – they can drive a car, many of them have jobs and parents want assurance that their children can defend themselves in a dangerous situation,” he added (ABC).
Western Australia is the only other jurisdiction in Australia that permits the general sale of OC spray (The Guardian).
Read more: The NT’s dangerous pepper spray trial (The Saturday Paper)