Breaking: NT announces pepper spray will be made accessible to 16 and 17yos

The Northern Territory government has announced pepper spray will be made accessible to 16 and 17-year-olds as part of a move to permanently legalise the weapon in the NT for self-defence following a 12-month trial. 

The Territory's trial of pepper or oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray began in September last year but was limited to adults, with the weapon only able to be purchased from 11 approved NT firearms dealers.

In order to buy OC spray the purchaser was required to complete a buyer declaration form confirming they had no relevant criminal history, or current police or court orders.

Speaking to the media this morning, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the response to the trial had been "fantastic with a 99 per cent success rate". 

Ms Finocchiaro said reform permanently legalising OC spray would be passed by the end of the year, with a few key expansions from the trial.

The first and most notable is the extension of the age eligibility to teenagers aged 16 years and above, provided they meet the conditions listed on the buyer declaration and purchase it with a guardian present and consenting.

"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," Ms Finocchiaro said in a statement.

She added that it would not be allowed to be used at school, with her government ensuring "schools and teachers have authority to confiscate OC spray" under the new legislation.

The second change from the trial conditions is the ability for anyone who works at a licensed premises to lawfully use OC spray in self-defence, as opposed to just the security officers.

The chief minister said the other key expansion was the "household use" of OC spray.

"It was just a practical feedback that we received from the community, was that if there was a household of two or more people and only one of them had purchased it, [the trial conditions] prohibited the other people in the home to use that OC spray if the need arises," she said.

Ms Finocchiaro explained in that situation the new legislation would allow the other people in the household to use the OC spray in self-defence within the home's "boundaries", "provided they still meet the criteria even if they weren't the purchaser".

Reform labelled 'wild' by teachers representative

Speaking to 105.7 ABC Darwin, Branch President of the Australian Education Union of the Northern Territory Brian Gray said while the union did not have an official position on the legalising of OC spray for 16 and 17-year-olds, he was confident many teachers would consider the reform "wild". 

"All the kids I've taught have been great in their own way, but there aren't a lot I would trust with something like this."

Mr Gray argued the reform did not align with other legislation that restricts young people from accessing weapons or substances. 

"We don't allow a 16-year-old to go into a shop and buy a knife … we don't allow them to buy fireworks, we don't allow them to drink alcohol, so it just doesn't seemed to be a well thought-out position behind this age limit."

The former secondary school teacher said while confiscating items from students was not an unusual practice at schools, he felt it was still ultimately "another unnecessary risk".

"It's only a matter of time before we hear about this ending up in schools or, you know, being used in fights between kids."

Mr Gray added that while he understood parents' concerns for the safety of their teenagers who may be working or going out late at night, he did not believe OC spray was the answer.

"I guess my response to any parent who feels that their child needs to carry this to be safe is that they probably need to be having a conversation with them about where they are going, where they're hanging out and what time of night, rather than handing them a can of pepper spray."