Share and Follow
Chaos erupted at a shopping centre when a group of people yelling at each other escalated into chairs being tossed and smashed around a food court.
Video shows dark-coloured seats being thrown while two security guards try to fight off the group of what appears to be about 20 young people.
A staff member from the local bakery told 9News employees are confronted with scenes like these every day.
“I was actually starting at six in the morning. It was very scary coming into the shopping centre because they are already in here,” Michelle said.
“Tormenting people, drunk and carrying on.”
Michelle has lived in Alice Springs since she was four and is now considering leaving. Like many residents she’s fed up and scared.
“The biggest problem too is a lot of the kids, they come in groups of 10 to 15 and they are scary because they don’t give a crap and you can’t touch them,” she said.
Pubs and clubs are facing the same issue with what they say is violent and erratic behaviour. Publicans are asking for more than alcohol restrictions.
“Certainly something we need to be looking at, how do we get these kids off the street?” Craig Jervis of Lasseters Hotel Casino told 9News.
Read Related Also: Gender reveal for pregnant Perth mum allegedly killed after struck in carpark
“Late at night somewhere safe as well. It’s certainly a complex issue, we all acknowledge that, but there is certainly more to be done.”
The Chief Minister Natasha Fyles remains adamant the government is working towards solutions, and today called on help from residents.
“What we need is the community to come together to understand there is no quick fix but if we all work together we will overcome these challenges,” she said.
The shopping centre fight is the latest in a string of violent and escalating outbursts in Alice Springs in recent weeks.
In recent days a 16-year-old boy was arrested over an alleged axe attack on another teenage boy, and a nurse spoke about the disturbing levels of trauma and neglect frontline workers are confronted with on a daily basis.
Earlier this week nearly 3000 of the 30,000 Alice Springs residents attended a meeting to address the intensifying crime wave gripping the town.
Photos reveal scale of clean-up facing Queensland after floods
A highly anticipated report on alcohol restrictions in the town has been handed to the federal and Northern Territory governments, which will now help pave the way forward.
