NT chief minister says Alice Springs curfew has nothing to do with upcoming election
The Alice Springs youth curfew is due to end on Tuesday.
Northern Territory government ministers who previously rejected youth curfews as ineffective are backing Chief Minister Eva Lawler's decision to call one, as the three-week emergency declaration in Alice Springs nears its end.
There have been several calls over the past five years for youth curfews in the town, but those calls were rejected by the incumbent Labor government until last month.
The decision to call one has come months out from the NT election in August.
But Ms Lawler has denied the "circuit-breaker" in the Red Centre is an attempt to win back popular support.
Loading...Deputy Chief Minister and NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech and then-Territory Families minister Kate Worden have previously criticised the measure in parliament, with Mr Paech saying they were "punitive and send a negative message to our tourism industry".
"It also becomes a game for our young Territorians, because they will begin to say: 'Pfft, we will go out tonight and try to dodge the coppers because there is a youth curfew'," he said in 2020.
This was echoed by the then-Territory Families minister Kate Worden.
But both senior ministers have now backed the use of a curfew and praised the chief's decision.
"In my previous ministerial role, I was provided advice that the senior leaders at the Northern Territory Police Force didn't support a curfew," Ms Worden said.
"I welcome this change in sentiment from police and other agencies because it has delivered results for Alice Springs."
Mr Paech said: "Without resiling from my previous comments about youth curfews, I understand that governments need to be flexible, adaptable and open to change and that's why I fully support these measures.
"We will continue to do whatever it takes to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all Territorians."
Chief minister says curfew not motivated by politics
Loading...The chief minister has repeatedly denied the curfew was influenced by concerns about her party's popularity ahead of the next election.
"I don't make decisions based on politics, this is about making sure Alice Springs and the Alice Springs community is safe," she said.
"We don't even hold any seats in Central Australia, so it isn't about politics at all."
She said the decision was made between herself, Police Minister Brent Potter and NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, after more than 50 weapons were confiscated during the March 26 unrest.
Jacinta Price has called for a strong response in Alice Springs following social unrest. (ABC News: Felicity James)
Northern Territory Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the change in tone from the NT Labor government was "interesting".
"There are a number of Labor MPs, both federally and locally now, who are sounding more conservative now than Labor," she said.
"Perhaps they're seeing the light, and they don't have any ideas."
Senator Price said the curfew had worked but also called for "long-term measures" to address the social issues present in Alice Springs and remote communities.
Businesses question timing of curfew
The ABC has spoken to several businesses in Alice Springs, most of whom said the curfew had made a difference.
But some questioned why it had taken so long for the Northern Territory government to introduce one, despite years of calls.
Sophie Marriott says she is concerned more businesses will close due to the town's issues. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)
For Sophie Marriott, who owns a shop in Alice Springs, the youth curfew in the town has been welcome and overdue.
Her baby clothing store fronts onto the prominent Todd Mall, at the heart of Alice Springs's central business district.
Ms Marriott said prior to the curfew, she'd notice more and more kids coming into the CBD in the evening.
She said she lost business after a previous spike in unrest in January 2023 and was concerned about the impact of ongoing violence not only on people, but on the economic future of Alice Springs.
"If we don't find strategies to solve our social problems in town, we are going to see more and more businesses close down," she said.
Tourism operators met last Thursday to discuss future steps forward, amid concerns about a drop in bookings and wave of cancellations during what should be Central Australia's peak season.
Ms Marriott was among those to note the timing was in the lead up to Territorians heading to the polls.
"It's gotten to the point now, and it also happens to be an election year, where finally people have said, enough is enough," she said.