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The Northern Territory government’s response to community unrest in Alice Springs has been met with mixed feelings by the Top End’s Aboriginal organisations.
Video footage on Wednesday showed a group of people throwing rocks at a local pub and kicking at its doors, which allegedly caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
The Central Land Council strongly condemned the violence.
“It is never ok to frighten residents and damage their property,” said Council chair Matthew Palmer.
“They have disrespected the native title holders of Mparntwe who have made it very clear how they expect people to behave,” he said.
“Young people should not take matters into their own hands but follow cultural leadership and authority.”
In declaring an ’emergency situation’, Chief Minister Eva Lawler on Wednesday imposed a youth curfew applying to anyone under 18 years old, which will run for two weeks.
The Central Australian Aboriginal Congress said the curfew’s implementation was an unfortunate necessity.
“It is sad that we have got to [this] point,” said the Congress CEO, Donna Ah Chee.
“The emergency situation is a required circuit breaker that will lead to an immediate improvement,” the Bundjalung woman continued.
The unrest is believed to stem from family disputes, and coincided with the funeral of a young man who died earlier this month.
Ms Ah Chee acknowledged these sensitivities, but also pointed to recent government actions regarding the policing of licenced liquor premises.
“The decision by the police minister to walk away from full coverage of the take-away outlets with [Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors] … has again led to an influx of remote people to town,” she said.
“It has further been caused by many years of lack of investment by successive governments, especially out bush, on the broader social determinants of the unacceptable behaviours we have seen from young people and related adults over recent days.”
Ms Ah Chee’s sentiments reflected those of the Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney, who yesterday also welcomed the curfew as a ‘circuit breaker’.
The Northern Territory police is also sending 58 additional officers to the town of about 30,000 people.
However, some fear the government’s sudden actions, and a lack of community awareness, will cause increased interactions between authorities and young people.
“No one had any idea [the curfew] was actually happening,” said Jared Sharp, principle legal officer at North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
“There was no consultation. Young people in Alice Springs, and Central Australia generally, will have no idea that they’re about to be coming into contact with police if they’re out at 6pm at night.”
Mr Sharp said the organisations was “extremely disappointed” by the announcement, and dismissed its effectiveness.
“We don’t think this is a productive way forward. It’s a Band-Aid solution, it’s a retrograde step, it’s not going to make the community safer.
“It’s just going to criminalise incredible vulnerable young people.”
Mr Sharp said his office had not seen an increase in arrests on Wednesday night, the curfew’s first.
