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Author

Nicholas Lay

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News articles by

Nicholas Lay

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  • NT: Six Babies Born Alive and Left to Die

    NT: Six Babies Born Alive and Left to Die

    The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has recently discovered evidence in the Northern Territory, of five babies who have been born alive following a termination of pregnancy procedure and have been left to die. These five are an addition to Jessica Jane in 1998. Legal protections are in place for these children in New South Wales… Read More

  • NT Local Courts Stalled. The Ball Is in the Government’s Court Now.

    NT Local Courts Stalled. The Ball Is in the Government’s Court Now.

    This week, the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory handed down a decision that could have major consequences for our justice system. The Court confirmed that Local Court judges have the power to adjourn or stay proceedings where a defendant cannot access legal representation. In simple terms, if someone cannot obtain a lawyer, their case… Read More

  • No Child Under Government Protection Should Be Left Sleeping Outside

    No Child Under Government Protection Should Be Left Sleeping Outside

    By Nicholas Lay, NT Director, Australian Christian Lobby No child under government protection should ever be left sleeping outside. That sentence should trouble every Territorian. It should trouble parents, grandparents, teachers, police officers, church leaders, foster carers and every member of Parliament. On Monday, I spoke with Vision Christian Radio about a case raised in… Read More

  • NT Minister Vows To Reform Child Protection

    NT Minister Vows To Reform Child Protection

    The NT child protection system is broken. We’ve heard it firsthand. Multiple reports. Serious concerns. Mandatory notifications filed again and again. And still, nothing happens. Following the tragic death of Kumanjayi Little Baby, the NT Child Protection Minister has vowed reform, as the government launches an investigation and stands down staff. The people inside the… Read More

  • A Small Reform in a Huge Gambling Crisis

    A Small Reform in a Huge Gambling Crisis

    The Northern Territory Attorney-General, Marie-Clare Boothby, has introduced the Racing and Wagering Amendment Bill 2026, expected to be debated during the May sittings. The Bill responds to growing concerns about the governance of the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission, which oversees online bookmakers and much of the territory’s racing industry. At present, some commissioners… Read More

  • Northern Territory Assisted Dying Laws Update

    Northern Territory Assisted Dying Laws Update

    New details have been confirmed about the VAD Bill expected in 2026. The NT Attorney-General has confirmed new details about the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) Bill that is to be introduced in 2026. This follows a 2025 inquiry that made 86 recommendations, which were previously described as some of the most extreme in the country.… Read More

  • The Wash-Up of the Nightcliff By-Election

    The Wash-Up of the Nightcliff By-Election

    Kat McNamara became the first Greens member elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly when she won the seat of Nightcliff at the 2024 general election. Her resignation after just 18 months in the role due to health challenges triggered the recent by-election. The 2024 result was already an unusual one. Despite finishing third on… Read More

  • The Unborn Should Be Protected Against Domestic Violence Too

    The Unborn Should Be Protected Against Domestic Violence Too

    A woman eight months pregnant was allegedly strangled and kicked in the stomach by her partner in Alice Springs this week. That single report is horrific enough. But it also exposes a deeper legal and moral problem: when violence is committed against a pregnant woman, what protection does the unborn child actually have under Northern… Read More

  • Legal aid no longer representing new cases in the NT

    Legal aid no longer representing new cases in the NT

    5 December 2025 Legal Aid NT has announced major restrictions due to severe funding pressures. As of 17 November, free legal representation will no longer be provided to people charged with a crime unless they are already in custody. This shift is being described as a drastic response to growing financial strain. The change comes… Read More

Media releases by

Nicholas Lay

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  • Unhinged Alice Springs Town Councillor admits babies are born alive and left to die

    A tense exchange occurred over the weekend in Alice Springs where a rally to protect babies born alive following a termination of pregnancy was met by vocal counter-protestors. The counter-protestors included Aia Newport, Alice Springs Town Councillor who repeatedly yelled ‘Those babies almost always die’ through a megaphone. The Australian Christian Lobby has over the… Read More

  • NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE: Six babies have been Born Alive and Left to Die in the Northern Territory

    The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has today revealed evidence that six babies were born alive following abortion procedures in the Northern Territory and subsequently died.  ACL is calling for urgent legal protections to ensure babies born alive receive the same care and human rights afforded to every other child.  The call comes as ACL hosts… Read More

  • NT Local Courts Stalled – Balls in Government’s Court Now

    On Wednesday, the Supreme Court confirmed proceedings may be stayed where defendants cannot access legal representation, delaying cases across the Northern Territory. The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has been advocating for Legal Aid NT to be properly funded for 6 months, to ensure a fair trial for all Territorians. A challenge was made in the… Read More

  • Child Left Homeless While Under Care of NT Child Protection

    A child under the protection of the Northern Territory Government was left homeless and sleeping outdoors for months despite authorities being warned about the situation. The confronting new case study was revealed during debate over the Care and Protection of Children Legislation Amendment (Every Child Matters) Bill 2026. The previously unreleased account, submitted by the Australian… Read More

  • ACL backs plan to reform NT’s child protection system 

    The Australian Christian Lobby has today supported in principle a reform of the NT’s child protection system, labelling the current system ‘broken by ideology’.  Minister Robyn Cahill, the NT Child Protection Minister has vowed to reform the system following the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby and is launching an independent investigation. Three staff from the… Read More

  • ACL Applauds NT Rejecting NCC 2025 

    The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has applauded the Northern Territory Government’s decision to not support the adoption of the National Construction Code 2025 (NCC 2025). The new code would reduce women’s only bathrooms, potentially putting women and children at risk.  The new code contains new provisions which allow developers to install all-gender toilets in public… Read More

  • Former NT Speaker threatens to knock ACL on the head regarding VAD 

    Former Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, Kezia Purick   threatened physical assault towards the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) live on ABC Darwin this morning in light of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation.   Ms Purick said this morning she would “…personally knock them on the head…” in talking about our efforts around Voluntary… Read More

  • CLP Propose Sensible Safeguards on VAD 

    The Northern Territory Attorney-General, Marie-Clare Boothby has outlined further details about the CLP’s proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) bill that will be introduced mid-2026. The CLP’s bill will include two additional safeguards, deviating from the inquiry’s recommendations. The Australian Christian Lobby has labelled the additional safeguards as sensible.  The Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (LCAC)… Read More

  • (NT) The unborn should be protected against DV too 

    The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has made a submission to a Northern Territory inquiry calling for greater protections for the unborn against domestic violence and other criminal acts. This was in the wake of news in Alice Springs this week reporting that a ‘woman who is eight months pregnant was allegedly strangled and kicked in… Read More

  • ACL Praises Puberty Blocker Ban for Children in the NT 

    The NT News has today reported that the NT Government has announced a ban on puberty blockers for children, a move that the Australian Christian Lobby has praised.  In October 2024 during the first week of Parliament, the Australian Christian Lobby’s petition was presented by the Hon Robyn Lambley signed by 463 petitioners calling for the NT… Read More