The Northern Territory Labor government in Australia has extended a youth curfew in Alice Springs by six days until April 16.
Young people under the age of 18 are unable to enter the town centre between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. without a valid reason.
These include medical emergencies, travelling to work, gaining access to a youth service, or if they are accompanied by a “responsible adult.”
The curfew was originally implemented in late March following a string of violent incidents and unrest in the city, following the funeral of a teenager who died in a car crash involving a stolen car.
Alice Springs Declares Emergency
The government extended the measure following advice from the Territory Emergency Management Committee.While initially meant to expire on April 10, the government decided to extend it.
The Labor government declared an “emergency situation” in Alice Springs on March 27, and declared an initial 14-day curfew which included Easter and the school holidays.
At the time, the Territory government said the unrest in the city was “unacceptable” and the government would not stand for it.
The government said it has seen “encouraging results” following the introduction of the youth curfew and explained police and government departments would now work more closely than they did previously.
On April 9, Labor Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the curfew was working as a circuit-breaker.
“It is important that we don’t lose the momentum that we have established,” Ms. Lawler said.
“Work is being done right now to ensure that the community is prepared for when the curfew ends and we continue to have a strong presence from police, Territory Families and the Department of Education.”
She said the government is taking a “common sense approach” to improving community safety in Alice Springs. Meanwhile, the Opposition Country Liberal Party called on the Labor government to extend the curfew until the end of April.
Police Minister Brent Potter said police had worked very closely with the Department of Territory Families and other agencies and that this would continue after the curfew was lifted.
“Our police have done an incredible job over the past fortnight in Alice Springs and we know they will continue to work hard to enforce this curfew over the coming days,” Mr. Potter said.
However, following the initial curfew announcement North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Deputy Chief Executive Leeanne Caton described the intervention as a “knee-jerk reaction.”
Opposition Says Locals Are Leaving
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro is calling for an even longer youth curfew.In a video posted to Facebook, Ms. Finocchiaro said Territorians are living in fear and packing up and leaving.
“People don’t feel safe anymore. They don’t see a future here anymore. And as a result of that, they’re packing up and leaving,” she said.
The Country Liberal Party leader explained this is why her party is focussed on law and order.
“Because we cannot have a strong community, a strong economy, if people don’t feel safe enough to run their shops, employ staff, send their kids to school, or live in their own communities,” she said.
The Territory government deployed 50 extra police in Alice Springs at the time of announcing the emergency declaration in late March.
Youth under the age of 18 were advised if they were found in the city after 6 p.m. or before 6 a.m. without a valid reason they would be taken home or to a “safe place.”
At the time, Ms. Lawler said, “Enough is enough. I have heard the community and my government is acting. Alice Springs residents and businesses deserve every support to get through this period and that’s exactly what we are doing.
Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson expressed support for the curfew, yet he was saddened by the turn of events.
“It’s an acknowledgement of a community at the end of its tether,” he said.
“This Council has long advocated for change, and it’s frustrating to see things get to this point. The events of the last 24 hours in our community are truly hard to fathom ...”
