The Alice Springs youth curfew has been extended following a series of emergency meetings after chaos erupted in the town’s centre.
A riot two weeks ago saw buildings trashed, the doors of the local tavern kicked in, more than 50 weapons seized and a car set on fire.
The two-week curfew is extended until the end of the school holidays. It bans people under 18 from entering the town centre between 6pm and 6am without a valid reason.
Local Indigenous youth case worker, Armani Francois, aged 18, told The Briefing how people are feeling in Alice Springs:
Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler called an ’emergency situation’ resulting in the curfew and an additional 80 police officers being redeployed.
No arrests have so far been made in relation to the youth curfew. Conditions will stay in place while the town tries to implement long-term strategies.
Francois said the curfew hasn’t stopped youth crime. “We still have crime happening in Alice Springs,” she said, “There was a stolen car about last night. I was driving and I seen it.”
Francois said there needs to be a drop-in centre for young people with free water and a showering station, as a safe place for people who don’t have anywhere to go.
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