In the Northern Territory, it is mandatory (compulsory) for any adult to tell the police if they think a child (person under 18 years old):
- has been harmed, exploited, or a victim of a sexual offence
- will be harmed, exploited, or a victim of a sexual offence.
This is called mandatory reporting.
Harm also includes seeing and hearing domestic and family violence. Under Northern Territory law, all adults must report serious domestic and family violence to the police.