The Northern Territory Government has extended a curfew for young people in Alice Springs for another six days.
An initial two-week curfew under 18-year-olds in the region was announced last month, amid concerns about growing violence and unrest. That curfew was due to end this Wednesday (10 April).
It will now continue until 6am Tuesday 16 April, meaning the curfew will cover the entire NT school holiday period.
Alice Springs youth curfew
The curfew prevents young people in Alice Springs from leaving their homes between 6pm and 6am. Anyone found in public outside these hours is returned to their home or taken to a safe facility.
Extra police officers were deployed to Alice Springs to assist with the curfew.
NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler said authorities had seen “very encouraging results” since the curfew was introduced, confirming it would run until “the first day back at school,” on Tuesday. The same conditions will apply for the extended curfew.
Response
Ahead of this afternoon’s announcement, the NT Opposition had urged the government to extend the curfew until the end of the month.
Shadow Treasurer Bill Yan, whose electorate surrounds Alice Springs, said that without updated laws and increased police powers, “youth offenders will continue to run the town”.
He also called for harsher penalties for any youth caught breaking curfew rules.
Age of criminal responsibility
The Opposition has called for the age of criminal responsibility to be lowered “so that parents and youths can be held accountable”.
The NT increased its age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years of age last year. It means police cannot press charges against anyone under the age of 12.
