After passing a suite of justice repeals in the first week of sittings, the new Northern Territory government has unveiled plans to add another 1000 prison beds.

Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley said the government had come up with a three-point plan to reduce overcrowding, build long-term infrastructure and focus on rehabilitation.

“I make no apologies for the tough decisions we have to make to fix this mess,” he said.

The plan includes moving children from the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre to Darwin and converting the facility into a women’s prison.

They also plan to move 200 prisoners back into the existing Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, which was originally Berrimah adult jail before being decommissioned in 2014.

The government confirmed children will be moved out of the dilapidated Don Dale facility before adults are held at the site in early November.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said the infrastructure investment would immediately reduce the use of police watch houses and relieve pressure on the growing demands.

“We have seen an unprecedented growth in prison population over the last couple of years … almost a 400-person increase, which puts incredible pressure on our staff and our facilities,” he said.

With an extra 1000 beds by 2028, it takes the total number of people potentially incarcerated in the NT to above 3000.

On Friday, less than 24 hours after lowering the age of criminal responsibility, the government sent a letter to youth justice agencies announcing it would “wind back” its most significant youth diversion program.

In emails seen by AAP, the Department of Territory Families said the Back On Track program will stop taking “some referral types” by November 1 following a review.

The letter said the Department of Corrections, which absorbed youth justice after the election, will begin creating a “new and improved youth diversion program” but provided no date as to when it will be available for referrals.

Legal and social services said they are concerned young people will be sent directly to jail without a functioning diversion program.

AAP