Youth Curfew Declared Amid Tensions in Alice Springs

Violent brawls involving hundreds of people at a local pub have triggered an emergency declaration in Alice Springs.

Chaos descended in the Northern Territory town on Tuesday afternoon when a large group attacked the Todd Tavern as tensions escalated following the death of a teenager.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the assault was horrific and unacceptable.

“We never want to see anything like that in the Northern Territory again,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’m fed up with this appalling level of crime and antisocial behaviour.

“The community has had enough.”

A curfew from 6pm to 6am will be enforced for people aged 18 and under for two weeks. Northern Territory police will send 58 additional officers to the town of about 30,000 people.

Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said the group was from the Utopia region, northwest of Alice Springs, and was in a town commemorating the death of a family member earlier this month.

On 8 March, an 18-year-old died after hanging out of the window of an allegedly stolen car that rolled over in the Alice Springs CBD.

He was killed by the vehicle and left there by the driver and passengers.

Murphy said the brawl has left the Todd Tavern owners with a bill of more than $30,000 for damages.

Cars in the area were hit and a 16 and 18-year-old were arrested at the location.

Later on Tuesday evening, the ceremony was continuing at Hidden Valley town camp outside Alice Springs when more than 150 people were involved in a violent brawl, police said.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler (centre) speaks to media with Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Michael Murphy (left) and Northern Territory Police Minister Brent Potter (right) during a press conference in Darwin. Source: AAP / Neve Brissenden

The brawl resulted in broken windows, smoke damage to a house and a car set on fire. Three people aged 19, 31 and 50 have been arrested.

Murphy said he was fed up with the rising crime rates in Alice Springs.

“People have had a gutful and frankly so have I, around some of the behaviours we’re seeing in town, unacceptable behaviours, or lack of authority or lack of respect for authority,” he said.

He said NT Police was reviewing footage of the incidents and was preparing to make more arrests.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson expressed his frustration with the violence on social media.

“Horrendous doesn’t cut it, but I have run out of words,” he said.

“I don’t know if there is a big enough rooftop to scream from – that we need help.

“To the people who were locked in buildings today to the people who were affected with damage or weapons, my thoughts are with you.”

Paterson has previously called for federal assistance or a military intervention in the remote town.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price made an impassioned plea on Tuesday for federal parliament to step in.

“Those responsible for the millions of dollars going to the services in my community, need to do their part to stop this kind of behaviour in our community,” she said.