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 a 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 legalising OC spray would be passed by the end of the year, with four 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.
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